ABCD Model for Writing Objectives

Download The ABCD Model Guidelines Download The ABCD Model Guidelines

for additional information. 

The ABCD Model is an acronym for:

• Audience (To begin a rough draft, you may use "Students will be able to" to help you get started)
• Behavior (Use a measurable action word using Bloom's Taxonomy) 
• Condition (Optional)
• Degree (Optional)

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Steps to Writing Learning Objectives

1. Identify the noun, or thing you want students to learn.
   Example: alternative text for images 
2. Identify the level of knowledge you want. In Bloom’s Taxonomy, there are six levels of learning. It’s important to choose the appropriate level of learning, because this directly influences the type of assessment you choose to measure your students’ learning. Example: Apply alternative text for images 
3. Select a verb that is observable to describe the behavior at the appropriate level of learning using Bloom's Taxonomy. 
4. Add additional criteria to indicate how or when the outcome will be observable to add context for the student. Example: Apply alternative text for images based on the context of the page.

Here's a short article that might be helpful: Learning Goals, Learning Objectives and Backward Design—Oh My! Links to an external site.

Bloom's Taxonomy

Here's one version of Bloom's Taxonomy to give you some good verb ideas. Do your best to include higher order thinking skills (analyze and above).

Verbs for Bloom's Taxonomy

Download the Bloom's Taxonomy Table. Download Bloom's Taxonomy Table.

Download and print the Bloom's Taxonomy Worksheet to help brainstorm your objectives. Download Bloom's Taxonomy Worksheet to help brainstorm your objectives.

Remember	Understand	Apply	Analyze	Evaluate	Create
Arrange	Classify	Calculate	Combine	Appraise	Arrange
Define	Describe	Construct	Figure	Argue	Assemble
Locate	Identify	Demonstrate	Find	Assess	Compose
Recall	Indicate	Estimate	Sketch	Defend	Create
Recite	Organize	Illustrate	Solve	Estimate	Design
Describe	Interpret	Interpret	Predict	Judge	Devise
Repeat	Illustrate	Appraise	Change	Predict	Formulate
Identify	Reorganize	Contrast	Survey	Qualify	Invent
Select	Translate	Criticize	Compare	Rate	Manage
Quote	Paraphrase	Diagnose	Diagram	Support	Modify
Label	Summarize	Identify	Examine	Critique	Organize
Copy	Transform	Classify	Test	Recommend	Plan

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Need More Examples?

Check out some "before and after" learning objectives Links to an external site. for more examples that will help students understand what you need them to learn. 

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Back to A2 - Clarity of Objectives