Writing Course-Level Objectives

Well-crafted course objectives will be specific, actionable, measurable and written from the student's perspective.

To craft learning objectives written from the student's perspective, begin your course objectives list with the following phrase.

"By the end of this course, students will be able to"

Then construct learning objectives using the following steps:

1. Choose an observable action verb that describes what action students will perform.

2. Describe the knowledge or skills students should acquire.

Check out these cross disciplinary examples:

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Apply microeconomic principles to explain why environmental problems occur.

• Analyze a business situation to determine an information management need.

• Develop a comprehensive, individualized wellness plan focused on overcoming a sedentary lifestyle.

It is important to differentiate between learning objectives and assessments. The distinction may seem subtle; However, learning objectives describe what students should know rather than the assessment which is used to prove what they know.

Let's look at the following two examples:

• Write an essay about microeconomic principles to explain why environmental problems occur.

• Apply microeconomic principles to explain why environmental problems occur.

The first learning objective foregrounds the ability to write an essay (assessment) rather than the knowledge or skills students should gain. This could cause issues with the alignment of learning activities that might focus more on teaching students how to write an essay. The second example appropriately foregrounds knowledge and skills—how to apply and explain microeconomic principles .

If the skill students need to learn is, in fact, to write an essay because it is a writing course, then the objective and the assessment may be one in the same.

Check Point

At this point, check the learning objectives listed in your current syllabus or course map for any objectives that foreground the assessment(s) rather than the knowledge and skills students should master.

In module 2, we will practice writing course-level learning objectives using Bloom's Taxonomy as a guide. You can also learn more about and practice crafting course-level learning objectives using the ASU Learning Objectives Builder tool.