Learning Objectives? Why is it important?

Honestly, whenever I talk about this particular topic, sometimes I forget why is this important. So this is a good reminder for myself too.

How do you write good learning objectives?

Lets start by asking, WHY is writing good learning objectives important in the first place?

Alright, most of you are probably wondering what the heck are learning objectives? Man... this is getting complicated isn't it? So many questions to answer!

Lets start at the beginning.

Every teacher is taught how to draft a lesson plan.

In general, most lesson plans talk about what they intend to cover, how they are going to teach it, time allocated for teaching and additional information regarding the lesson. And like the saying goes: 'Always have the end in mind'

So teachers always have to think about what are the lesson objectives before they teach a lesson so that they know if they have met their lesson objective or not.

Now, clear lesson objectives make a difference. How? By being clear and accurate, we stay on track as we plan, think and execute.

Now, if you are a parent, what does this have to do with me? Well, I always felt that parents should understand this area because how you speak to your child, the language used, the syntax of the question helps form the way your child process the question and how he gives his answer.

Common mistake made by both teachers and parents are to give simple questions, that require only simple answers. but thats not enough! That does not stretch or test the child's thinking capacity.

Ok so lets get back to the original thread. We have touched on the 'Why'. Now lets talk about the 'How'.

Lesson objectives are not only confined to the classroom. It can also be the questions you ask your child or student.
The way we ask questions affect what kind of skill you are testing.

This comes from the commonly used concept of Bloom's Taxonomy. (You can read more about it here)

Bloom's separates the different levels of learning of the child into 6 broad categories.

By understanding these 6 categories, a teacher or parent will be able to test or plan what kind of information you want for the child.

The lowest level of learning is remembering.

So for example, we often ask children, 'Do you remember what colour was the car?'

How many of us are guilty of that? Now, not that the question is wrong. But it could be phrased better.

It could have been phrased as, 'Recall the colour of the car'.

Now you may say, that doesn't seem much of a difference, but you know, the more you continue giving simple syntax questions, the worst it becomes for the child in the future. This is something we all are guilty of.

So even when writing a lesson objective or a test, Bloom's Taxonomy is a good way to help you phrase things the right way.

So the verbs are important when crafting your questions.

Now, to be honest, I cannot claim myself to be an expert in this. But as a former ICT trainer and teacher, I can share with you simplified ideas on this topic.

We have to talked on the 'Why' and the 'How'. Let me introduce to you now how ICT and Bloom's Taxonomy links.

We have Smart Devices like iPhones, Samsung Galaxy or tablets like the iPad.

Now even though it says for iPad, majority of these apps will be available for Android, and Windows also.
You could always substitute them with a close equivalent also.
These apps, will help your child or student to achieve those learning levels that you plan for. But of course all this requires planning and thought. So TAKE YOUR TIME!

The worst thing you can do as a parent or teacher is to jump right in and throw the iPad to the child and expect them to use those apps without guidance. It doesn't work that way!

So I shall leave you here for today, but go check out the web link that I included earlier on Bloom's Taxonomy.