What are the benefits of working with learning objectives?
Thomas Courtley
Education Specialist
Teachers may sometimes find it challenging to transition towards incorporating learning objectives into their best practice. However, it's important to recognise that everything you have accomplished until now is of value towards implementing targeted learning objectives. Our online teaching platform and AI assistant can help you create very engaging, interactive lessons based on your learning objectives.
The transition towards working with learning objectives doesn’t have to happen right away. It is a step by step process made of many moments. Present methods and best practice can help towards achieving some of the chosen objectives.
Within this article, our primary focus is on discussing the advantages of formulating learning objectives for both educators and students. We will dive into the distinction between process-related objectives and content objectives. Additionally, we will delve into how adaptability and the integration of digital tools empower educators in achieving their learning objectives.
At the end of this article we will talk about how working with objectives also influences teachers’ personal development in many different, positive and unexpected ways.
Start with defining personal learning objectives for your students
Before we start talking about content-related learning objectives, it is important to look at the value of process-related learning objectives. They are based on how a student learns. Examples of ‘how’ are cross-curricular learning objectives, or the achievement of learning skills, clearly formulated as learning objectives.
Learning is not exclusive to subject-related knowledge and skills. For instance, for career orientation and guidance purposes, a learning objective could be: 'I know which jobs are perfect for me', or 'I know who can help me define my career'. You entrust students with reflecting on their own learning process, making them feel in control: 'This is really about me!'
Content-related learning objectives
Content-related learning objectives are often better formulated in textbook lessons. Usually, a chapter starts with a big goal, followed by smaller goals in each section. These goals often match national standards set by experts who create teaching materials.
They're great for building your own lessons, even though they were first made for textbooks. You can tweak them to fit your teaching style. For instance, let's take this learning objective: 'How did the Dutch East Indies make money?' You can easily include it in your teaching: 'Identify and elucidate all the ways you can think of in which the Dutch East Indies became profitable.'
By using objectives, you create a clear focus and path to follow for you and your students.
Achieve coherence through flexibility
As mentioned above, effective learning objectives aren't limited to just one teaching approach. You can apply similar objectives to the teaching materials you already use in class. Chances are, you can compile a 'best of' list of teaching materials that align with the learning objectives, and move forward from there.
This process requires time. However, you likely already integrate the materials provided by your school with those you've selected or created yourself. When teaching materials align with the same learning objectives, it becomes easier to craft cohesive lessons, easy to understand for your students.
LessonUp supports you in creating targeted lessons based on learning objectives, which are also interactive and engaging.
Use EdTech that helps you embed learning objectives
Students are used to consulting and working with digital products in their own free time. They may perceive school methods as linear and slow moving if compared with what they are used to. A blatant example are the reactions of students who followed YouTube classes during the lockdowns. Once back in the classroom, they wondered why their teachers were talking so slowly… 'Are they…drunk?!'
As their teacher, you are also responsible for supporting and coaching them with digital teaching and learning that reinforces the achievement of learning objectives. It is desirable to select effective resources, including digital ones, and many schools are even looking into adopting a school-wide digital strategy. If yours isn't, you could still try to support your students by meeting their ‘digital’ needs, as well as the learning objectives.
Simplify things by defining cross-curricular learning objectives
By implementing learning objectives to your lesson material, you open the door to establishing cross-curricular learning objectives. As you know, that doesn’t mean that you have to formulate learning objectives vaguely, as to fit all subjects. It means that each learning objective can be applied to more than one subject, as you can see if you divide it into sub-objectives.
Work on your personal development as a teacher
To conclude, there is another important advantage to working with learning objectives: your personal development.
By integrating learning objectives into your teaching, you raise the bar for your lesson materials. You gain an understanding of why certain content is included in textbooks and can modify and upgrade it to better meet your students' needs. This doesn't mean you have to completely change how you teach. It simply gives you more freedom and flexibility in your approach. As a result, your students will appreciate and benefit from a more purposeful and effective teaching style! It's a win-win.
Our online teaching platform and AI assistant can support you in creating interactive lessons based on learning objectives. How?
