Writing Effective Learning Objectives

March 31, 2014Cynthia Tysickcat2@buffalo.eduAssociate LibrarianUniversity at Buffalo

What we’ll coverThe goal(s) of learning objectivesAn introduction to the ABCD method for writing

learning objectivesAn introduction to Bloom’s TaxonomyEvaluating your current learning objectives Identifying gaps in your current learning objectives

based on the ACRL Information Literacy StandardsEmploying the ABCD method to rewrite your

current learning objectivesConstructing a lesson plan necessary to meet your

revised learning objectivesCreating assessments that align with your revised

learning objectives

Learning objectives…are not goals. Goals are general and non-

specific, can be used for a course or curriculum. (e.g. “Create an information literate, lifelong learner.”)

are written for units of study.guide the student to what they are

expected to do after instruction. (e.g. “The student will distinguish academic scholarship from non-academic scholarship.”)

Bonus: they help guide the lesson plan!

ABCD Method4 components of a learning

objective:◦A is the Audience (always the

student)◦B is the behavior or action verb◦C is the condition for the objectives◦D is the degree of achievement or

criteria

The action verb is the key!Action verb can’t be omitted

◦Tells the student what they will do after instruction. (e.g. distinguish academic scholarship from non-academic scholarship)

Benjamin Bloom and his colleague, David Krathwohl, created a taxonomy of verbs used to write effective and measureable learning objectives.

Bloom’s Taxonomy…describes and classifies

observable knowledge, skills, attitudes, behaviors and abilities.

runs under the assumption that there is cognitive activity happening in the brain.◦Levels of observable action◦Three domains: cognitive (thinking),

affective (attitudes), and psychomotor (doing)

is commonly in the cognitive domain.

Cognitive DomainLevel 1: remember (knowledge)

& understand (comprehension)Level II: apply (application) &

analyze (analysis)Level III: evaluate (evaluation)

and create (synthesis)Each level demonstrates a progression of critical thinking skills.

See the handoutsCritical thinking is developed as

you go up the levels.Creating has replaced

synthesizing.Creating new knowledge is the

ultimate objective.

Putting it all togetherAfter the lecture the student will distinguish academic scholarship from non-academic scholarship.Lesson: PowerPoint defining academic scholarship, identifying authors of academic scholarship, and going over the sections of an academic article.Assessment: Show the covers and citations to a popular magazine piece and a journal article. Students distinguish one from the other using clicker or clicker app.

Evaluating your current learning objectives

Group exercise

Evaluating your current learning objectives

The student will be able to understand the information cycle.

Evaluating your current learning objectives

The student will be able to understand the information cycle.

What’s the verb here?

Using the two handouts can you come up with a more descriptive

verb?

Evaluating your current learning objectives

Work on finding a good verb for your learning objective.

ACRL Info. Lit. StandardsDetermine the extent of information neededAccess the needed information effectively

and efficientlyEvaluate information and its sources criticallyIncorporate selected information into one’s

knowledge baseUse information effectively to accomplish a

specific purposeUnderstand the economic, legal, and social

issues surrounding the use of information, and access and use information ethically and legally

ACRL Info. Lit. Standards

Group Exercise

ACRL Info. Lit. Standards

The student will create a search strategy.

ACRL Info. Lit. Standards

The student will create a search strategy.

Standard 2: Access the needed information effectively and efficiently.

Can you use a more descriptive verb that aligns with this ACRL standard?

ACRL Info. Lit. Standards

Can you identify a learning objective that needs work aligning

with ACRL Info. Lit. Standards?

ABCD MethodA=Audience (student)B=Behavior w/action verbC=Condition

◦after attending a lecture. . . .◦ following review of a demonstration. . . .◦given a case study. . . .◦after completing the assignment. . . .◦given a specific instrument. . .

D=Degree◦How well the learner must perform (can be

omitted if there is no deviation from normal protocol)

ABCD MethodOrder

◦Condition◦Audience◦Behavior w/action verb◦D (if necessary)

Within a given time frame Within a give number of tries Criteria set by instructor

Tense is always future (e.g. will)

ABCD Method

Group Exercise

ABCD Method

The student will construct a search strategy.

ABCD Method

The student will construct a search strategy.

Use the ABCD method to create a more measureable learning

objective.

ABCD Method

Use the ABCD method to make your learning objective more

measureable.

Lesson PlansWhat will you need to cover in order for the

student to be able to do what you want them to do?

What is the most effective way to get your lesson across?◦ Demonstration?◦ Lecture?◦ Hands-on?◦ Flipped?

What materials will you need to create?◦ Search examples for a demo?◦ PowerPoint or Prezi?◦ Checklist or worksheet?◦ Video or PowerPoint with audio?

Lesson Plans

Create an outline for a lesson that meets your learning objective?

Delivery methodResources needed

Assessment

Some of the more common assessments are:

◦Completed handout◦Post-survey◦Quiz◦Response paper◦Presentation/demonstration◦Bibliography◦Faculty feedback

Assessment

How will you assess the learning objective has been met?

ResourcesWriting Instruction Objectives by Kathy

Waller, http://www.naacls.org/docs/announcement/writing-objectives.pdf

Bloom’s Taxonomy of Measureable Verbs by Jerry Dugan, http://www.taasa.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Working-on-the-Wow-Side-Handout-31.pdf

ASSURE model for designing instruction by Jerry Dugan, http://taasa.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Working-on-the-Wow-Side-Handout-11.pdf

Bloomin’ Apps by Kathy Schrock, http://www.schrockguide.net/bloomin-apps.html