Many words are open to misinterpretation. "Fuzzies" are terms that are too broad to be clearly understood by the reader. It is necessary to communicate an objective in the most effective manner possible to avoid misinterpretation.
A useful objective successfully communicates an intended instructional result to the reader by successfully communicating your intent. The BEST statement is the one that excludes the greatest number of possible meanings other than your intent. In other words, it succeeds in communicating your intent of instruction yet avoids misinterpretation.
The format known to work for stating clear objectives includes four characteristics that help an objective communicate an intent. These characteristics answers four questions:
Audience
The learners
Identify who it is that will be doing the performance (not the instructor)
Behavior (Performance)
What the learner will be able to do
Make sure it is something that can be seen or heard
Condition
State the conditions you will impose when learners are demonstrating their
mastery of the objective.
What will the learners be allowed to use?
What won't the learners be allowed to use?
Under what conditions must the mastery of skill occur?
Degree (or criterion)
A degree/criterion is the standard by which performance is evaluated. The
communication power of an objective increases when you tell the learners
HOW WELL the behavior must be done. Focus on answering the question, "What's
good enough?"
Common degrees include:
Speed
Accuracy:
Quality
Content Design: Lisa Schuman
Under the direction of: Donn C. Ritchie
Post a question to the class forum.
All contents copyright (C) 1996, SDSU. All rights reserved.
Revised: March 9,1996 by D Lewis
URL:
http://edweb.sdsu.edu/courses/edtec540/objectives/Components.html