Learning Objectives

Once you have selected a state standard to guide your instruction, you should come up with one or more learning objectives for your lesson plan.

The ABCD method of writing an objective

When making your objective, begin with the end in mind. An objective is like a map. It tells you and your students where to go, how to get there, and what you are doing once you do get there. This is described as an ABCD Objective or an objective that has an audience, behavior, condition, and degree. Using this layout helps to keep your objectives clear, measurable, and specific. For example, in the following objective you see this ABDC as follows:

  • Audience: Who will be learning. This can be said in a variety of ways (the students, 4th graders, Jason, or even “I”.
  • Behavior: What you should be able to do by the time this learning activity is complete. Must be measurable.
  • Condition: How? Under what circumstances? What will they be given to help them achieve this?
  • Degree: How much? To what level? How will you know that they know enough?

Examples

Example: Given a diagram of the eye, students will be able label the 9 extra-ocular muscles and describe at least 2 of their actions.

Example 2: Kindergarten students will be able to organize types of various plant parts by function when given diagram cards of 5 different plants featuring visuals and names with 70% accuracy. 

  • A: Kindergarten students
  • B: organize types of various plant parts by function
  • C: when given diagram cards of 5 different plants featuring visuals and names
  • D: with 70% accuracy

Our A tells us who is going to do it, our B tells us what they are doing, our C gives us the condition which is the how, and the D gives us our goal of the assessment. By having a strong objective, you give the what, how, and why for learning in every lesson just like with the map idea shared above.

Resources