Instructional Objectives

Instructional objectives, also referred to as objectives or student learning outcomes, are statements that indicate the behavioral changes in knowledge, skills, or attitudes sought from students as a result of instruction or teaching activity. Instructional objectives indicate what students are expected to be able to do that they could not have done prior to teaching exercises. Written with the intent of learning as the outcome, teaching is the process used to accomplish that endpoint. In this regard, instructional objectives are outcome based and learner centered, focusing on the critical information, skill, or attitudinal outcomes sought.

Well-written instructional objectives highlight what learning should result by the end of a class session or another given period of time, such as a semester-length course. It is also recommended that ...