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When it comes to designing impactful learning experiences, setting clear and measurable learning objectives is crucial. These objectives act as a roadmap, guiding the learners towards the desired outcome.
In this article, I’ll explore three essential steps to craft objectives that truly hit the mark. By following these steps, you can ensure your instructional goals are performance-based, clear, and measurable.
Write SMART Objectives
SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. This framework ensures your objectives are clear and actionable. For instance, instead of saying, “Improve presentation skills,” a SMART objective would be, “By the end of the workshop, participants will deliver a 10-minute presentation with no more than three filler words.”
Include 3 Key Components
In keeping with the SMART objectives approach, you’ll need to include the following three parts:
1. Start with the task statement: This is written as an action verb followed by a noun. Keep in mind, the action verbs you choose are very important. You want to avoid vague, or what I call “fuzzy” verbs like “learn,” “know,” and “understand.” Examples of task statements include, “improve presentation skills,” “delegate work,” and “plant a lawn.”
2. Then, add a condition: This could be the time, location, equipment, or any other resources that’ll be used. The condition lets the learner know what they’ll need to complete the task to expectation. For example, “Given all necessary gardening equipment…”
3. Finally, include the standard: This tells the learner how well the task should be done. Is it “within 20 minutes” or “with no more than three filler words?” Or is it “according to the recipe?” The standard can be tied to accuracy, quality or quantity.
Review and Refine
Regularly review and refine your objectives based on feedback and the evolving needs of your organization. This iterative process ensures that your objectives remain relevant and effective. Encourage stakeholder input in this process to create more support and buy-in for training.
By incorporating these key elements into your instructional design process, you can create more robust and impactful learning objectives that drive learner success. Happy writing!
Writing objectives is just one of the twelve steps you’ll learn in the Instructional Design for New Designers workshop. From determining needs to evaluating the course, you’ll learn to confidently apply the 12-step design cycle for every instructional design project.
