Behvr Objectives & Learning - Outcomes 2003
Behvr Objectives & Learning - Outcomes 2003
Behvr Objectives & Learning - Outcomes 2003
Source: Rema Devi Menon (IBMM) 30 October 2003 Immersion Course for KDPM Mathematics Major
Objectives
Are the heart of learning objectives and lesson plans. They are a highly effective way to indicate, and communicate to others, specific, observable student behavior. Behavioral verbs describe an observable product or action. Teachers and others make inferences about student learning on the basis of what a student does or produces.
Basis for devising instructional strategies that will effectively lead students to learn what is intended to be learnt.
Clear objectives of instruction help the teacher in selecting the best possible method/technique for teaching.
the teacher should be able to tell all who are interested what he expects his students to learn from instruction. able to tell / communicate to others in a consistent, orderly, and efficient manner.
Condition
the circumstances, commands, materials, directions, etc., that the student is given to initiate the behavior.
Given 10 match sticks, student will be able to
Behavioral verb
Denotes an observable action, or the creation of an observable product.
Sample
identify, name, describe List of behavioral verbs Verbs used for Maths Sample of maths lesson
Lesson on subtraction Investigation I Investigation II Everyday Maths
Quality
Most Complex
Complex
Least Complex
Indeterminate
Apply a rule
define describe interpret
classify
demonstrate diagram estimate
distinguish
identify measure name
compose
construct label read
predict
evaluate
locate
order
state a rule
solve
translate
Assessment
An assessment is specifically designed to determine whether the learners have actually learned what was intended. Example: Objective
Assessment
Name the 3 parts of writing behavioral objectives.
Criteria
how well the behavior must be performed to satisfy the intent of the behavioral verb.
Given a list of the first 100 numbers arranged in ascending order (conditions), the student will identify (verb) at least nine prime numbers (criteria).
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/progra ms/everydaymath/
The learning outcomes are statements of what students are expected to know and do at an indicated grade; They comprise the prescribed curriculum.
http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp/curric/lo.html
Learning Outcomes
Remember
The key word is DO and the key need in drafting learning outcomes is to use active verbs. Note how words such as give, use and have a view are used in the following examples:
Examples:
At the end of this lecture you will be able to: state what is meant by a learning outcome give reasons why learning outcomes are valuable in designing a lecture use learning outcomes when planning and writing a lecture have a view as to whether you think they better enable you to describe to students what they are expected to learn from your material.
Learning outcomes help instructors more precisely to tell students what is expected of them. By doing this, educationalists assert that they:
help students learn more effectively. They know where they stand and the curriculum is made more open to them. make it clear what students can hope to gain from following a particular course or lecture. help instructors to design their materials more effectively by acting as a template for them. help instructors select the appropriate teaching strategy, for example lecture, seminar, student self-paced, or laboratory class. It obviously makes sense to match the intended outcome to the teaching strategy. help instructors more precisely to tell their colleagues what a particular activity is designed to achieve. assist in setting examinations based on the materials delivered.
[Certain verbs are unclear and subject to different interpretations in terms of what action they are specifying. These types of verbs should be avoided.]
ACTION VERBS for Covert behaviour (actions that cannot be observed or measured):
know, become aware of, appreciate, learn, understand, become familiar with
Vague outcomes: Participants will understand the nine reasons for conducting a needs assessment.
Examples
[If you ask a simple question ("Can it be measured?"), you see readily that these learning outcomes have shortcomings. They are not measurable. The same outcomes can be modified by changing the action verbs.]
Modified & clear outcomes: Participants will list nine reasons for conducting a needs assessment.
Participants will summarize in writing their feelings about cultural diversity in the workplace.
[Learners now have a much better idea of what is expected of them.]
References
NCGIA GISCC Learning Outcomes http://www.ncgia.ucsb.edu/education/curricula/giscc/uni ts/format/outcomes.html BC Ministry of Education - Curriculum - Prescribed Learning Outcomes http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp/curric/lo.html American Law Libraries - Writing Learning Outcomes http://www.aallnet.org/prodev/outcomes.asp