Module 4: Planning for Learning - Those Obnoxious Objectives

Creating Objectives

In many ways, creating objectives for learning is like developing a proposal for research. You must have a plan.

Whether it is a curriculum, a course, a lecture or an article, objectives provide a direction for you and for the learners. Equally as important, objectives are the outcomes by which you measure your success. Just as you would plan a trip, you first identify your destination. In order to be most useful, objectives should be stated in terms that are measurable or observable.

Consider the following objectives:

1. Know the electrophysiology of the heart.
2. Explain the electrophysiology of the heart
3. Interpret a normal electrocardiogram.

Objective 1 is difficult to measure unless you plan to give a test. Objective 2 is somewhat better in that it requires a behavior—to explain. Objective 3 is the strongest of the three since it requires a behavior—to interpret—and this objective incorporates objectives 1 and 2. Perhaps you do not want to include electrocardiograms in your lecture, so number 2 would suffice.