Importance of Clear Objectives within Syllabus
As discussed within this module, it is imperative that instructors clearly state the goals and objectives on the first day of class. Usually when I meet students, I take time to read through the syllabus so that I can briefly touch upon the objectives as laid out by the department. This ensures that faculty are indeed following policies and that students can be assessed and retention measured with the use of exams and lab reports.
Clear objectives are important so students and instructors can be on the same page and have a clear understanding of what should be accomplished within each course/lessons. I love the fact that many of the textbooks have the same objectives written in the beginning of each chapter in the textbook. I also encourage the students to review these on their own and use the listed objectives as a self-assessment to evaluate their understanding and knowledge of the course content or readiness for formal assessment (quiz/test/competency)
"Learning objectives" keeps the school in alignment, the teacher effective, and the students focused on what is to be learned.
