THE FOUNDATION OF COURSE DESIGN

Learning Objectives and Assessment

Learning Objectives and Assessment

Learning objectives (often called competencies or Learning Outcomes) are brief, clear, specific statements of what learners will be able to perform at the conclusion of instructional activities.

A learning objective is a “statement of instructional intent”

Assume that we have just completed facilitating a training course. We think the training went for well but we are not sure.

• How would we determine if participants have learned?

• What would we look for that might tell us that learning occured?

• How would we know that ALL participants have learned from the course?

This is the purpose of developing learning objectives.

Learning Objectives and Assessment

• What do I want participants to be able to do as a direct result of attending this training?

• What does my audience need to know, or be able to do, to bridge the performance gap?

• How will I know that all participants have achieved the learning objective? What type of assessment procedures will I use?

During this session you will practice writing a variety of learning objectives as a basis for course design and relevant for your work.

Later in the session you will develop assessment procedures for each learning objective. Often assessment procedures are simply ‘mirror images’ of your learning objectives but you may have to use your creativity to design assessments that provide evidence that all participants have achieved the learning objective.

Assessment Types/Techniques

• Pre- and post tests• Multiple choice• Performance task• Case study• Structured task• Written report• Simulations• And so on…

Learning Objectives and Assessment

The course designer aligns learning

objectives, learning strategies, learning

techniques and assessment

Learning Objectives and Assessment

Our Learning Objective

As a result of this session you will be able to:

• Develop at least three learning objectives in the proper format as a basis for course design;

• Design appropriate assessment tools to provide evidence that all participants achieve the learning objective.

BASIC CONCEPTS

Course Objectives: Non-specific, non-measurable statement of the outcome expected from the training program. For example, To improve communication skills for Woreda Staff

Instructional Objective: describes what the facilitator will do during a module to encourage learning.

Learning Objectives ( also called Lerning Outcome) -statements of instructional intent. They describe in specific terms what the learner will be able to do at the end of the module to demonsrate achievement of the objective.

Learning Objectives and Assessment

Cognitive learning objectives – learners gain knowledge – ideas, concepts and the abilty to think.

Psychomotor learning objectives - learners gain new physical skills and abilities.

Affective learning objectives – learners develop attitudes, values, feelings and motivation.

3 Types of Learning Objective

Learning Objectives and Assessment

Learning Objectives and Assessment

Bloom’s Taxonomy

https://youtu.be/4DgkLV9h69Q

Bloom’s Wheel

Exercise One: Using Bloom’s Taxonomy

You are preparing a module on AGP Capacity Development Process.

Group One Prepare a learning objective to teach someone to REMEMBER…

Group Two Prepare a learning objective to teach someone to UNDERSTAND…

Group Three Prepare a learning objective to teach someone to APPLY…

Group Four Prepare a learning objective to teach someone to ANALYZE…

Group Five Prepare a learning objective to teach someone to EVALUATE…

Group Six Prepare a learning objective to teach someone to CREATE

Exercise Two: Writing Learning ObjectivesAs a result of this session you will be able to…

Action Verb Standard

1. Develop a written report

2. Put together an annual work plan

3. Know about stakeholder analysis

4. Use needs assessment questionnaire

5. Describe Climate Smart Agriculture

6. Create gender-sensitive learning environment

7. Appreciate AGP Procurement Process

8. Understand learning styles and implications for course design

9. Understand AGPs 4-stage Capacity Development Framework

10. Appreciate importance of motivation when learning.

Learning Objectives and Assessment

Learning Objectives: What do I want students to know how to do when they leave this course?

Assessments: What kinds of tasks will reveal whether students have achieved the learning objectives?

Instructional Strategies and Activities: What kinds of activities will reinforce my learning objectives and prepare learners for assessments?

Alignment

Ask Yourself…

Learning Objectives and Assessment

AlignmentThere are two major reasons for aligning assessments with learning objectives.

• Alignment increases the probability that we provide participants with the opportunities to learn and practice the knowledge and skills required

• When assessments and objectives are aligned, “good grades” are more likely to translate into “good learning”.

Learning Objectives and Assessment

Assessments should provide evidence of how well participants have learned what we intend them to learn.

What we want learners to learn and be able to do should guide the choice and design of the assessment.

Learning Objectives and Assessment

As a result of this session you will be able to:

• Describe…• Analyze…• Distinguish…• List…

• Refer back to the performance objectives you developed in the previous session.

• Transform those performance objectives into well-stated learning objectives.

Remember:Performance Objectives describe tasks that are performed as part of a job.

Learning Objectives describe those tasks as they may be performed in the training room.

Total Time Required: 30 minutes

Performance Objectives to Learning Objectives

Assessment Exercise 2: Choosing Assessment Activities

For each of the learning objectives you have developed, decide how you will assess achievement

Learning Objective Assessment

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Learning Objectives and Assessment

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As a result of this session you will be able to develop at least three learning objectives in the proper format as a basis for course design, and design appropriate assessments activities to provide evidence that all participants has achieved each of three learning objectives.

Learning Objectives and Assessment

A learning objective is a ‘statement of instructional intent’;

It states what the learner will be able to do upon completion of the module;

It is the basis for all key decisions that occur during course design;

It is important that there is alignment between learning objective, learning strategies, earning activities and method of assessment;

Learning Objectives and Assessment

Learning Objectives and Assessment

Assessments should provide evidence of how well participants have learned what we intend them to learn.

What we want learners to learn and be able to do should guide the choice and design of the assessment.

Learning Objectives and Assessment

• WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT PREPARING LEARNING OBJECTIVES? ABOUT ASSESSMENT?

• DID ANYTHING SURPRISE YOU ABOUT WRITING LEARNING OBJECTIVES?

• WHAT IS THE HARDEST PART OF PREPARING LEARNING OBJECTIVES?

• WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES WHEN CHOOSING AN ASSESSMENT METHOD?

• WHAT IS ONE WORD THAT DESCRIBES HOW YOU ARE FEELING RIGHT NOW?