Writing Clear Objectives

Presented by: Carroll County Public Schools Mentoring Team

Power Point Created by: Robyn Marsden

Preface

• An important part of an effective lesson is a clear objective that informs the learner of what he or she should know and be able to do as a result of the lesson

• County wide expectations for clear objective writing are in the works

• Various sources were tapped for the information we are about to share with you and are included at the end of this presentation.

• As this is a “Professional Learning Community,” we look forward to developing our understanding of this important concept with you.

Activity

• Working in groups of 4 put these phrases together to formulate the learning objectives for today.

• What did you come up with?

Our Objectives for Today

After reviewing a power point and participating in a group discussion professional learning community members will be able to:

• List the 4 parts of the “ideal” learning objective with 100% accuracy.

• Write a learning objectives that contains a measurable verb taken from Bloom’s higher levels of thinking.

What is an objective:

• A description of a performance you want learners to be able to exhibit before you consider them competent.

• A statement that informs the learner of what he or she should know and be able to do as a result of the lesson

Why?

Writing clear objectives is important because:

• Objectives define what you will have the students do.

• Objectives provide a link between expectations, teaching and grading.

• Clear objectives help teachers foster higher level thinking skills in their students.

How: The A.B.C.D. Method

• The ABCD method of writing objectives is an excellent starting point for writing objectives (Heinich, et al., 1996). In this system, "A" is for audience, "B" is for behavior, "C" for conditions and "D" for degree of mastery needed.*

*Taken from Penn State University Online: http://tlt.its.psu.edu/suggestions/research/Write_Objectives.shtml

Audience

• Who? Who are your learners?

• As you target a specific audience with your objective make sure that you are meeting the needs of all learners in that group.

• If there are learners in that group that do not need the lesson, (they've already attained mastery) engage them in another productive activity designed to meet their needs. (Differentiation)

Behavior

• Answers the question: What do you expect the learner to be able to exhibit as a result of the lesson?

• The behavior is the action (verb) that describes what the learner (audience) will be able to do after the instruction.

Condition

• How? • Under what circumstances or context

will the learning occur? • What will the student be given or

already be expected to know to accomplish the learning?

Degree

• How much will be accomplished?• How well will the behavior need to be

performed, and to what level? • Do you want total mastery (100%),

do you want them to respond correctly 80% of the time, etc. A common (and totally non-scientific) setting is 80% of the time.

*Not always necessary to include in your objective

Identify the A.B.C.D. in our objectives for today:

• Who is the audience?• What is the expected behavior? What

should you know and be able to do as a result of this lesson?

• What are the conditions or circumstances under which learning will occur?

• How well must you perform today in order for the performance to be considered acceptable?

ActivityWork with a partner to dissect and

classify the parts of the objectives listed on the cards.

Given a paragraph in a newspaper article, the student will be able to accurately identify the grammatical subject of each sentence and explain his or her decision for all sentences given. A-Audience B-Behavior C-Condition D-Degree

the student Given a paragraph in a newspaper article,

will be able to accurately identify the grammatical subject of each sentence and explain his or her decision

for all sentences given.

Given a list of meteorological terms, the student

will be able to accurately explain what each term means in one or two sentences for all terms given. A-Audience B-Behavior C-Condition D-Degree

the student Given a list of meteorological terms,

will be able to accurately explain what each term means in one or two sentences

for all terms given.

Given a foreign language sentence written in the past or present tense, the student will be able to rewrite the sentence in future tense with no grammatical errors.

A-Audience B-Behavior C-Condition D-Degree

the student Given a foreign language sentence written in the past or present tense

will be able to rewrite the sentence in future tense

with no grammatical errors.

Given a current-events topic the student will be able to write grammatically-correct, well-crafted opinion essay of three-five pages over two to three days.

A-Audience B-Behavior C-Condition D-Degree

the student Given a current-events topic

will be able to write a grammatically-correct, well-crafted opinion essay of three-five pages

over two or three days.

Given a set of current meteorological conditions taken f rom a weather station the student will write a weather forecast covering the next six hours.

Given the opportunity to work in a team with several people of diff erent ethnic backgrounds, the student will demonstrate a willingness to participate and positive non-discriminatory interactions with all team members, as measured by a checklist utilized/ completed by non-team members.

Given a standard balance beam raised to a standard height, the beginning student (attired in standard balance beam usage attire)will be able to walk the entire length of the balance beam (f rom one end to the other) steadily, without f alling off , and within a six second time span.

Given an geometric object in Photoshop sof tware, the student will be able to use the computer mouse and lasso tool to trace a usable outline which can be used to defi ne the object f or a montage.

Quick Review: What are the 4 parts of an “ideal”

objective?•A=Audience•B=Behavior•C=Condition•D= Degree

Verbs: The Key to Expressing Desired Behaviors

•The verb in a learning objective is an action word that connotes an observable behavior.

•Bloom's Taxonomy is a way to classify instructional activities or questions as they progress in difficulty. The lower levels require less in the way of thinking skills. As one moves down the hierarchy, the activity requires higher level thinking skills.

Knowledge

Remembering or Recall of InformationDefine Name

Describe OutlineIdentify RecallLabel ReciteList SelectMatch State

•Label• List• Workbook• Reproduction•Vocabulary

Products include:• Quiz• Definition• Fact• Worksheet• Test

Comprehension

Understanding of given information

Products include:

• Recitation

• Summary

• Collection

• Explanation

• Show and tell

• Example

• Quiz

• List

• Label

• Outline

Convert ExtendDefend GeneralizeDiscriminate InferDistinguish ParaphraseEstimate PredictExplain Summarize

Application

Using strategies, concepts, principles and theories in new

situations

Products include:

• Photograph

• Illustration

• Simulation

• Sculpture

• Demonstration

• Presentation

• Interview

• Performance

• Diary

• Journal

Change OrganizeCompute PrepareDemonstrate RelateDevelop SolveModify TransferOperate Use

Analyzing

Break down Infer Deduce Outline

Diagram Point outDifferentiate RelateDistinguish Separate outIllustrate Subdivide

Breaking information

down into its component elements.

Products include:

• Graph

• Spreadsheet

• Checklist

• Chart

• Outline

• Survey

• Database

• Mobile

• Abstract

• Report

Synthesis

Putting together ideas or elements to develop

a original idea or engage in creative

thinking.

Products include:•Film• Story• Project• Plan• New game

•Speech •Song• Newspaper• Media product• Advertisement• Painting

Categorize DeviseCompile FormulateCompose PredictCreate ProduceDesign

Evaluating

Appraise JudgeCompare JustifyContrast SupportCriticize ValidateDefend

Judging the value of ideas, materials and

methods by developing and applying standards

and criteria.

Products include:• Debate• Panel• Report• Evaluation

• Investigation• Verdict• Conclusion•Persuasive speech

Identify the “Bloom” Verb in the following :

• will be able to accurately identify the grammatical subject of each sentence and explain his or her decision

• will be able to accurately explain what each term means in one or two sentences

• will be able to rewrite the sentence in future tense

• will be able to write grammatically-correct, well-crafted opinion essay of three-five pages

• will write a weather forecast

• will demonstrate a willingness to participate and positive non-discriminatory interactions with all team members,

• will be able to walk the entire length of the balance beam

• will be able to use the computer mouse and lasso tool to trace a usable outline

Writing an Objective Fifth Grade: ILA Benchmarks

Benchmark: Comprehends text

Competency: Self-questions to clarify and extend meaning

What: are the fifth grade indicators?: Independently decides when to pause to monitor/clarify meaning; pauses, reflects upon, and questions the text to monitor/maintain/extend meaning

How: can the indicators be taught?: Teacher . . .continues to provide opportunities for students to independently apply their reading strategies.

Where: can the indicators be taught/observed?• Guided Reading• Small Group Instruction• Literature Discussion Groups

Now it is your turn!

Using the objective you brought with you, rewrite it using the ABCD

method. As you write your objective think about how you will use a

“Bloom Verb” to denote the desired change in behavior.

Summary

• What are the 4 parts of the “ideal” learning objective with 100% accuracy.

• Review the learning objective that you just wrote with a partner. Can you identify the audience, behavior, condition and degree?

• As you re-read the objective, circle the measurable verb taken from Bloom’s higher level of think.

Questions?

Resources

• http://www.educationoasis.com/curriculum/LP/LP_resources/lesson_objectives.htm

• http://workforce.cup.edu/peterson/2004calweb/Resources/WritingObjectives.doc

• http://edtech.tennessee.edu/~bobannon/writing_objectives.html

• http://med.fsu.edu/education/FacultyDevelopment/objectives.asp