How to write better learning objectives – the easy and simple way

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In this post, I’ll be showing you the easy and simple ways to go about writing better learning objectives. But first, what is a learning objective?

Learning objectives are a breakdown of what you wish to achieve at the end of your learning program. They are measurable performance objectives that define a single outcome. Although some confuse it as learning goals, they both have different meanings. A learning goal is the overall outcomes of a course. 

Having cleared the air on learning goals and objectives, let’s see the simple and easy ways to write better learning objectives in e-learning.

Determine who your learners are, and define them

The first step to writing your learning objectives is to define your learning goal. That of which can be achieved by identifying and understanding your audience.

Although writing learning objectives can be a hard thing to do, knowing your learners and well defining your goals will make it easier. So, when creating an online training course, it’s essential that you think about the audience.

Is your course directed towards top managers of an organization or is it directed towards on-boarding of new hires? Whichever the case, knowing your audience will help you define your goal, hence becoming easy to write your learning objectives.

Defining the learning goal

Like earlier said, it’s only when you define the learning goal that you’ll get to write your learning objectives. The point is that each learning objective must contribute to the efforts of learners/employees in achieving the learning goal.

So, ensure you write your learning objectives in such a way that supports the already defined learning goal.

Use the knowledge, skills, and attitude model to breakdown your objectives

Are you familiar with the knowledge, skills, and attitude (KSA) model of learning? These three elements are vital to every learner. Knowledge is having an idea of something, and it can get measured by one’s ability to retain information.

On the other hand, skill is the ability to carry out a task with what you possess. Although it requires knowing especially when there are new skills available, it’s more than just knowledge. And then, attitude is how someone feels about something, and it can be hard to measure.

So, ensure to focus your learning objectives singly on these three elements of the KSA model. Also, when writing your learning objectives, use action verbs particular to these elements. 

For instance, to write KNOWLEDGE learning objectives, use action verbs like Identify, Classify, Quote, and Recite

Once they can perform the said objectives using the information from the training, then you can rest assured that they have gained knowledge.

In the case of SKILLS, you can use action verbs like Use, Demonstrate, Operate, Compute. These actions verbs require learners to use the skills acquired during training to perform a task.

Most times, ATTITUDE change only get visible at the end of the training. That’s why it can be hard to find action verbs that suit it for learning objectives.

However, there are still a few action verbs that you can use to write attitude learning objectives. Such verbs include; Collaborate, Motivate, Facilitate, and Influence.

Bloom’s Taxonomy

Do you remember Bloom’s taxonomy? Well, you can use it when designing your learning objectives. In Bloom’s taxonomy, learning objectives are classified according to the cognitive process in the learners’ minds.

These classifications include; Knowledge, Comprehension, Application, Analysis, Synthesis, and Evaluation. Bloom’s taxonomy plays a vital role in determining the learning objective as it helps to understand the order in which learners process information. 

According to the revised version of Bloom’s taxonomy, Anderson and Krathwohl restated the process in verb format. Below are some helpful action verbs that you can use when writing your learning objectives according to the revised Bloom’s taxonomy.

●      Remember

Quote, repeat, recall, name, list, state, memorize, relate, show, record.

●      Understand

Identify, explain, review, discuss, outline, infer, qualify, restate, expand, recognize.

●      Apply

Use, explain, experiment, contrast, classify, operate, practice, interpret, sketch, demonstrate, model.

●      Analyze

Differentiate, calculate, criticize, examine, compare, appraise, separate, experiment.

●      Evaluate

Choose, decide, revise, score, argue, rate, discuss, think, assess.

●      Create

Construct, assemble, plan, predict, imagine, set-up, produce, formulate.

Writing a clear learning objective will help you to communicate with your learners exactly what your course aims at achieving. Besides, it will give you the confidence that your learners will achieve progress along the way.