Formulating Instructional Objectives
By Soledad S. Mina Roguel
Overview
This module discusses objectives and their importance in the educational process.
It also includes how to write instructional objectives.
Objectives are the intended or desired outcome of an educational experience.
These are the knowledge, skills, and attitudes we want the trainees to learn. Objectives
serve as guide and give focus to our instructional efforts. Every teacher should know to
formulate good instructional objectives.
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
1. Define instructional objectives.
2. Explain the importance of instructional objectives
3. Differentiate the three classification of instructional objectives.
4. Discuss the parts of an instructional objective.
5. Write good instructional objectives.
What are Instructional Objectives?
An instructional objective is a description of the result expected from a learning
experience. It describes the performance or the behavior expected of the leaner at the end
of the learning activity. The term instructional objective is used interchangeably with
performance, behavioral or learning objective.
Objectives are essential in all phases of instructions. Instructional objectives give
the following advantages:
 They provide a guide in selecting the materials to use and the methods to employ
in teaching.
 They provide standards for measuring acceptable student behavior.
 They serve as criteria for evaluating the quality and efficiency of instruction.
 They serve as a contract between the learner and the instructor.
 They allow self-evaluation on the part of the learner.
Classification of Educational Objectives
Objectives may fall in any of the three domains. Years ago, Bloom and other
educational psychologists came up with three classification of objectives to assist in
developing assessment instruments. These learning domains are cognitive, affective, and
psychomotor.
Cognitive objectives deal with knowledge and the five intellectual abilities
related to processing of knowledge. Objectives in the cognitive domain range from the
simplest to the most complex. They are comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis,
and evaluation. The learners must first possess the basic knowledge before they can
engage in higher level of cognitive performance.
In Bloom's taxonomy of cognitive domain, objectives are arranged in a hierarchy.
The lowest level is knowledge, which involves recalling or recognizing an idea or
concept.
Comprehension is the second level. It is the ability to translate an idea or concept
from one form to another.
Application, on the other hand, is the use of an idea or information in a new
situation. For instance, what you learn in the lecture, can you apply it in the field.
The fourth level is analysis; to examine or break down a complex concept into
parts or elements.
Synthesis, which means putting together information in a new or unique way is
the fourth level.
The highest level in the hierarchy is evaluation. It is the process of making
judgment about something using external criteria. Judging the internal coherence of a
piece of communication such as a proposal or a plan is an example of evaluation.
Affective objectives. When the expected performance deals with actions
associated with feelings and emotions, they belong to the affective or attitude domain.
Affective outcomes are more difficult to assess since feelings are highly subjective and
internal.
Psychomotor objectives are those having to do with manual and motor skills.
Physical activities and other skills that require body coordination belong to this domain.
The major criterion in determining the domain to which an instructional objective
belongs to is the primary performance called for. For instance, when the objective has
something to do with knowledge or mental ability, it belongs to the cognitive domain.
When the expected performance deals with attitude, it belongs to the affective domain.
When it relates with skills or physical activity, then it can be classified as psychomotor or
skills domain.
Writing Instructional Objectives
Different authors discuss parts of an instructional objective differently, however
there common parts. Minnick (1989) for example gave 4 parts on instructional objective,
namely, preamble, verb, object, and chunk. Other authors give 3 parts only, verb, the
conditions/restrictions under which the behavior is to be demonstrated, and the criterion
for acceptable performance.
Preamble. The first part or the beginning of the objective that set the stage to
follow is the preamble. Examples of preambles are as follows:
1. After reading the module
2. At the end of this presentation
3. This lecture will enable
Verb. The second part of the objective is the verb. The emphasis here is on the
action or behavior the learner is to perform. When we state our objectives, we should
use verbs that are specific, measurable, and observable. Look at the following lists of
words and see the difference between them.
A
Identify
Describe
Compare
Construct
B
Understand
Know
Appreciate
Learn
Words in list A are specific whereas words in list B are vague and could be open
to many interpretation. Minnick (1989) calls specific verbs closed and the verbs that are
vague as open verbs. They convey various meanings to different people. Use closed or
specific verbs when writing your objectives. See Table 1 for a list of verbs that could be
used for stating objectives in the cognitive domain.
Object. The third part of an objective is the object of the verb. While the verb tells
what you want the learner to do, the object tells him or her, what to do on what.
Look at the following examples of objectives that contain the 3 parts mentioned:
1. After reading the module, you should be able to discuss the importance
of instructional objectives.
2. After this presentation, you should be able you to write instructional
objectives.
3. At the end of the lesson, the trainees should be able to use the leaf color
chart (LCC) to diagnose nitrogen deficiency.
Qualifiers and Quantifiers
Minnick (1989) suggests to use qualifiers and quantifiers to make exact what we
want the learners to do. Qualifiers are the restrictions, givens, or conditions under which
the behavior is performed. In other words, they tell what the learners will be provided or
denied (restrictions) when demonstrating the behavior. Examples are the following:
1. Without looking at the handout
2. Using a leaf color chart (LCC)
3. Given a map of the Philippines
Quantifiers or numbers make the directions more explicit. They state the criteria
or standard by which the action or behavior is to be judged. There are several ways for
stating criterion for acceptable performance. One way is to indicate time limit; another is
to specify the minimum number of correct responses either in terms of percent or
proportion. Examples of quantifiers are the following:
1. Write at least 3 instructional objectives.
2. Diagnose 2 sample rice plants using the LCC.
3. Locate the Philippines in world map in 30 seconds
4. Answer correctly 8 out of the 10 questions
5. Identify 5 weeds.
Following are some examples of instructional objectives that contain the 3 parts:
1. After this lecture, you should be able to write at least 3 instructional
objectives.
2. Using a leaf color chart (LCC), the participants should be able to
diagnose 2 sample rice plants.
3. Given a map of the Philippines, the trainees will be able to locate the 5
Phil Rice branches in 30 seconds.
4. Without looking at their notes, the students should be able to correctly
answer 8 out of the 10 questions given.
5. Using the specimens collected, the trainees should be able to identify 5
weeds.
Summary
To help the students learn, teachers should clearly spell out the goals or targets,
they set out for their class. Every teacher should have an idea of what knowledge,
abilities, and attitudes they would like the students to develop for that particular
educational encounter. These goals are expressed in terms of instructional objectives,
which will provide focus to the instructional efforts of both the teachers and the students.
The steps in writing instructional objectives can be summarized into 3 steps:
1. Select and write the preamble.
2. Select and write the verb.
3. Write the object of the verb.
Make use of qualifiers and quantifiers if you want to make the object of
the verb exact and specific.
References
Bloom, B. et al. Taxonomv of Educational Obiectives. Handbook I: Coqnitive Domain.
New York: McKay, 1976.
Gronlund, N. Measurement and Evaluation in Teachinq, 4th ed. Chicaqo: Rand McNallv,
1981.
Minnick, D.R. A Guide to Creatinq Self-Learninq Materials. Los Banos, Laguna:
International Rice Research Institute, 1989.
Writing Instructional Objectives. Self-Learning Booklet. Los Banos, Laguna:
International Rice Research Institute, 1991.
Evaluation Activities
A. Test yourself if you can answer the following questions without looking at the
handout.
1. Why are instructional objectives important?
2. What are the three classification of learning domains?
3. Differentiate a close verb from an open verb.
4. What are the parts of an instructional objective?
B. Write 3 complete instructional objectives on a particular topic in your area of
specialization.
Table 1. Verb List for Stating Cognitive Objectives Based on Bloom's Taxonomy
Knowledge
Define
Repeat
List
Recall
Name
Relate
underline
Comprehension
translate
record
discuss
describe
recognize
explain
express
Application
interpret
apply
employ
use
demonstrate
illustrate
operate
Analysis
Synthesis
Evaluation
distinguish
analyze
D ifferentiate
compare
contrast
experiment
criticize
diagram
inspect
question
solve
inventory
question
compose
plan
propose
de$ign
formulate
arrange
assemble
construct
collect
set up
organize
manage
prepare
judge
evaluate
rate
value
revise
score
select
choose
assess
estimate
measure
/