Using Learning
Objectives
to give your students a
roadmap to learn.
Kathy Williams
San Diego State University
The current class topic
The carbon cycle and
its role in ecosystem ecology

Assignment: Read the short paper.

At the beginning of the next class you will be
asked to answer a basic question on the basic
concepts in the paper you read.
[Take 5 minutes to read the paper.]
… continued next class
1. What is the largest pool of actively cycling
carbon? a) in terrestrial plants and soil, b)
in animals, c) in ocean water
2. Briefly explain in words how plants use
carbon, and diagram where C atoms go
when they leave the plant.
[Place your responses in center of table when
done - keep a copy for yourself.
Names optional.]
Answers?
1. What is the largest pool of actively cycling
carbon? a) in terrestrial plants and soil,
b) in animals, c) in ocean water
2. Explain how plants use carbon in words
and diagram where C atoms go when they
leave the plant.
- via photosynthesis -> for growth and
metabolism
- herbivory, decomposition, respiration …
Learning objectives as a roadmap
Half of you got the learning objectives along with the
paper - and half of you didn’t.
Learning objectives: Students should be able to …
1 - compare the relative sizes of actively cycling carbon
pools, and their rates of turnover (fast, intermediate,
slow).
2 - explain how plants obtain carbon.
3 - trace the route of carbon from the atmosphere, through
a plant, and back to the atmosphere.


Discuss the following question in your groups for 5 min
so your group reporter can share your ideas.
Did having the learning objectives before
doing the reading assignment help?
In what way(s)?
Using learning objectives to help
students learn
Benefits and costs …
 Increased engagement; read more effectively.
 Students focus on challenging concepts at heart of your
learning goals right away - learning how to learn.
— Takes time - you have to provide them before classtime!
 You have most of your exam written early.
— /  Students are demanding - they like this strategy and
empowered by it!
Writing learning
objectives …


What are your specific learning
objectives for each lecture or topic?
In other words, what’s the topic of
your exam or problem set questions?
What do you expect students to do
that would convince you that they
have achieved the learning
objectives?
Writing learning
objectives …


Example 1: Students should use their knowledge
of the cell cycle to make predictions about the
effectiveness of a new treatment for cancer.
Other examples of applications/synthesis phrases
for exam/homework questions:
- interpret data (“variable x increases as variable y
increases”)
- evaluate data (“Does this make biological sense?”)
- make conclusions about data (“What implications are
there?”)
- design an experiment to test the prediction that …
- make a plausible prediction about the outcome of a
situation
Guidelines …



Use action verbs - tell students what you
want them to be able to do.
Include quantitative outcomes.
Emphasize providing evidence.
Now you try it …
Write 2 learning objectives
for your paper

Addressing different levels of
knowledge/understanding
- Individually
- Share, by group
- Report out
Assessment Gradient
High
Ease of
Assessment
Multiple Choice, T/F
Diagrams, Concept
maps, Quantitative
response
Short answer
Low
Potential for
Assessment of
Learning
Essay, Research
papers/ reports
Low
High
Oral Interview