A prerequisite to writing goals (overarching statements) and objectives (specific
statements of what it takes to achieve a goal) is a having a familiarity with how people
learn. As you think back on your previous instructional design classes
remember Gagne’s organization of learning domains as a guide for writing
performance objectives.
If you need to review your ability to use the domains correctly try evaluating several
goal statements by the learning domain they address. You can do this with the
exercise that follows the chart. If you are unsure about writing objectives try identifying
the three parts of objectives. In the document entitled “3 Part Objectives.”
You will need to associate learning domains with instructional strategies in the
lesson plan that you design for ITED 8300. You will also need to use 3 part
performance objectives. If after practicing with these exercises you are still
unclear about these topics, you should let Dr. Schmertzing know so that more
instruction can be given.
What is a Goal?
 A goal is a statement of what learners should be able to do at the conclusion of
instruction.
 It is a broader statement than an objective
 The focus of a goal is on outcome or performance of the learner.
Writing Goals
Use clear, concise statements of learner outcomes.
Use verbs like:
Choose
Discriminate
State
Demonstrate
Generate
Summarize
Discover
Do not use the following verbs:
Know
Appreciate
Understand
An example of a goal:
Student will design and produce a lesson for delivery via multimedia demonstrating effective
designing skills and effective computer skills according to criteria established in the class.
Behavior that learner will do: design & produce a lesson
Indicator of behavior:
use of effective design & computer skills
Evaluation statement:
according to criteria established in class
Gagne’s 5 domains of Learning Outcomes
Learning Domain
What the domain covers
1. Verbal Information
Basic description of
knowledge and facts
2. Cognitive Strategy
Learner develops a strategy
for learning
3. Attitude
Predisposition to learning
4. Psychomotor Skills
Learn to physically perform a
certain function.
5. *Intellectual Skills
Deals with rules, concepts
and ideas
5.a. Discrimination
Determine if 2 objects are the
same or different
5.b. Concrete concepts
Something you can see or
face
Something you have to give a
name to. You can’t touch it,
but you know it (democracy).
How to print documents
(if this then do that)
5.c. Defined concepts
5.d. Rules and
procedural
relationships
5.e. Higher order rule
Diagnose a problem and
address solutions to the
problem
Verbs to Use
“Learner will…”
State
Recite
Summarize
List
Discover
Adapt
Choose
Avoid
Execute
Draw
Perform
Discriminate
Identify same or
different
Identify
What will be reflected if the goal is
achieved
Reflects ability to recall information
Reflects ability to assess learning task, to
select a strategy, apply the strategy, assess
and modify the strategy
Reflects what learner does to show
acquisition of attitude.
Reflects learners ability to control the
muscular activity required for a specific
task.
Ability to apply rules to previously
unencountered situations and handle the
situation effectively.
Ability to differentiate between 2 stimuli
(example: match this with that)
Reflects learner’s ability to classify and
label ideas, objects, events.
Classify
Demonstrate
Explain
Predict
Fix
Generate
Apply
Evaluate Analyze
Ex. – Is this an example or nonexample of a
particular concept?
Indicates that learner can use the rule to
predict, explain, control something or
successfully complete a procedure.
Requires learner to assess the
problem/situation, determine which rule
applies and synthesize for a solution.
Practice using Gagne’s list to identify the Learning Domain
associated with the following statements.
1.
The learner chooses to exercise one hour a day while on vacation.
Learning Domains
1. Verbal Information
2.
The learner must invent a way to remember the steps to
Dick and Carey’s Instructional Design Model.
2. Cognitive Strategy
3. Attitude
3.
The learner must list relevant dates and locations of the wars
fought with United States involvement during the past 75 years.
4. Psychomotor Skills
4.
The learner will demonstrate a knuckle ball in a baseball game.
5. *Intellectual Skills
5.a. Discrimination
5.
Given an architectural drawing of a house, the learner must select
all of the doublewide doorways.
5.b. Concrete concepts
5.c. Defined concepts
6.
Using the formula provided, the learner must convert a series
of measurements from miles to kilometers.
7.
Given a map and a budget, the learner must determine how to
reach the West Coast from Valdosta, Georgia, in less than 48
hours and with money left over in the budget.
5.d. Rules and
procedural
relationships
5.e. Higher order rule
Answers
8.
The learner will run one mile in twelve minutes.
9.
Given sample uses of technology in the classroom and lesson plan
guidelines the learner will generate a lesson plan that can be used
in his/her classroom and incorporates technology into its design.
1. Attitude
2. Cognitive
Strategy
3. Verbal
Information
4. Psychomotor skill
5. Concrete concept
6. Rule and
procedures
7. Intellectual skill:
higher order rules,
problem solving
8. Psychomotor
9. Intellectual skill:
Higher Order,
problem solving