Page 88 - Making Instruction Work

chap 7 3/14/97 1:21 PM Page 74

74 making instruction work

NOTE: Statements describing intended instructional
outcomes are called objectives because their accomplish-
ment can be measured. Goals are broad (fuzzy) state-
ments of intent; objectives are measurable statements of
intent. In plain language, if an outcome statement isn’t
precise enough to measure whether the outcome has been
achieved, it isn’t an objective.

Characteristics of Objectives

Here’s an example of an objective to which you can refer as
you read the characteristics described below:

Objective: Given an accident report form and an acci-
dent scene, be able to complete the report.

Criteria: a. All entered information is correct and legible.
b. Report is completed within 15 minutes.

1. An objective describes student performance. It doesn’t
say anything about what the instructor will do or try to
accomplish. It doesn’t describe course content or the
textbook.

2. An objective is about ends rather than means. It
describes a product of instruction rather than the process
of instruction. It describes what students will be able to
do when they are competent, rather than describing how
they will be made competent.