Instructional objectives describe the expected outcomes of a particular academic program or course. These objectives define what the learner will be able to do after following instructions and are short-term, measurable, and focused on the skills and attitudes related to lessons. Well-defined instructional objectives are crucial for creating lesson plans and developing assessments based on these objectives.
Key Takeaways
- Instructional objectives describe what is expected to be learned, while learning objectives describe what learners know and what they are capable of doing at the end of the course.
- Instructional objectives focus on students, whereas learning objectives focus on both teachers and students.
- Learning objectives are based on three areas of learning: knowledge, skills, and attitudes, while instructional objectives do not necessarily focus on these areas.
Learning objectives describe what learners will be able to do at the end of a lesson after completing prescribed activities. These objectives are based on knowledge, skills, and attitudes, and help evaluate the progress of learners while encouraging them to take responsibility for their learning. To create effective learning objectives, it is essential to use verbs like state, explain, outline, list, or describe, while avoiding verbs that are difficult to assess and measure.
The main difference between instructional objectives and learning objectives is that instructional objectives describe what is exactly to be learned and are helpful for both teachers and students, whereas learning objectives describe what students know and what they are capable of doing at the end of the course. By using both types of objectives, learners can better understand what they will learn throughout the course.
