A2 - Clarity of Objectives

Learning objectives are valuable in that they direct and guide both teaching and learning. Course-level objectives (or SLOs) identify more overarching student understandings and higher level thinking skills, while unit-level objectives break down skills and knowledge into specific, discrete skills.

Clear and measurable unit-level objectives are also critical in helping an instructor identify content and assessments necessary to meet the learning goals.

For example:

• Course-level objective: Students will demonstrate a mastery of rules of punctuation.
• Unit-level objective: Students will write sentences that demonstrate correct use of commas, semicolons, and periods.

Elements A1-3 are focused on unit-level objectives.

Sometimes unit tasks are confused with learning objectives. A task is an activity to be performed (watch a video, read the textbook, write an essay). The learning objective is how students will demonstrate their learning (e.g., explain, summarize, analyze, predict, design). 

"Translate" your objectives so they include measurable verbs. Here’s a nice chart with Bloom’s taxonomy verbs Links to an external site. . And here's a good resource on Bloom's Taxonomy for the Digital Environment Links to an external site..

EXAMPLES

Incomplete: 

This week we'll look at the American Revolution and discuss its causes. [This would be an activity rather than an objective. No demonstrable outcome here. You can't measure "look at" or "discuss" (or "understand" and "know," for that matter!) =-)]

Aligned:

At the end of this week, you'll be able to:

• Summarize why the American colonists were successful in defeating the British in the American Revolution
• Make inferences and draw conclusions between conflicts over taxation in the colonies to the same issues in present-day United States

[Active, measurable verbs in bold italic highlights]

Here’s a nice chart with Bloom’s taxonomy verbs Links to an external site.. And here's a good resource on Bloom's Taxonomy for the Digital Environment Links to an external site..

Need more guidance of how to write effective objectives? Use this ABCD Model, or read "5 Steps to Writing Clear and Measurable Learning Objectives Links to an external site.."

Where to Look

Wherever the unit-level objectives were found for A1. 

What to Look For

Phrases using active, measurable verbs like: identify the causes of the American Revolution; or, evaluate the ethical ramifications of animal research. If the great majority of the objectives are written appropriately and just a few would benefit from editing, this element may be deemed "aligned" with an accompanying note in the feedback narrative, explaining the suggested revisions.