Instructional Goals

An instructional goal is usually a general statement that identifies the course's overall intention (Brown & Green, 2020). Goals can be viewed as a roadmap for the course providing direction and focus (Georgarakou, 2022).

As an example, a goal for this course section is for the learners to understand instructional goals and objectives.

Instructional Objectives

Brown and Green (2020) explain that an instructional objective is a more specific statement that explains how the learner will be affected after completing the instruction. The objective is usually an actionable statement the learner will be able to perform. An objective for this course is that the learner will be able to create a learning goal and a learning objective.

Instructional objectives can be viewed as measurable checkpoints should be measurable checkpoints that are to be accomplished to achieve the goal (The Bob Pike Group, 2022). The Bob Pike Group website gives some tips to follow when creating a learning objective.

1. Identify the level of knowledge needed to achieve the objective.

   1. Is it a change in attitude, skill or knowledge.

2. Select the appropriate action verb based of the level of knowledge.

3. An objective should state who the audience is, what the behavior (action word) will be, the condition (situation) will be and the expected outcome.

A course may only have one goal; however, a course will have multiple objectives. Learning objectives are created for each topic of the course. Objectives should be communicated to the learners during the course, so they clearly understand their expectations. Remember, this is one of Gagne's Nine Events of Instruction. Creating goals and objectives helps the designer create relative instruction, appropriate tasks, and evaluations.

The Peak Performance Center (n.d.) provides more in-depth details on learning goals and objectives, including a chart of the difference between the two.

The Peak Performance Center Learning Goals and Objectives

Knowledge Check!

Click the button below to take a quiz categorizing instructional goals and objectives.

References

Brown, A. H., & Green, T. D. (2020). The Essentials of Instructional Design: Connecting Fundamental Principles with Process and Practice (4th ed.). Routledge (Taylor & Francis).

Georgarakou, R. (2022, January 20). Learning Goals & Objectives in Course Design: How To Prepare a Great Lesson Plan (2022). LearnWorlds. Retrieved January 21, 2023 from https://www.learnworlds.com/learning-goals-objectives/#learning-goals

Gigli, M. (2020). Target [Photograph]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/1JX4J_kq7sU?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText

The Bob Pike Group. (2022, June 05). 5 Steps to Writing Clear and Measurable Learning Objectives. Retrieved January 23, 2023 from https://www.bobpikegroup.com/trainer-blog/5-steps-to-writing-clear-and-measurable-learning-objectives

The Peak Performance Center. (n.d.) Learning Goals and Learning Objectives. Retrieved on January 15, 2023 from: https://thepeakperformancecenter.com/business/learning/course-design/learning-goals-objectives-outcomes/learning-goals-learning-objectives/