Learning objectives as I have personally observed are the most neglected area of the lesson plan. Surprisingly, some teachers do not know how to write learning objectives and worse, they do not even know why they were there in the first place or interprets such objectives in a wrong way.
Some teachers are so comfortable with customized lesson plans, which has been handed down or prepared by publishers that they would just jump to the content and the teaching strategy of the lesson without bothering to read and comprehend the learning objectives included in the lesson plan.
Learning objectives are actually guide for the teacher to deliver the precise content demanded by the lesson. But when these objectives are neglected, there is a big possibility that the teacher would be teaching something that is not actually what the lesson is all about. Or the teacher could be concluding the lesson with another idea rather than the real intention of the lesson.
Like a lesson about the story of David and Goliath. Possible learning objectives can include bravery, trust in God, not to look down on young people, conquering your giants, God uses anyone He wants... and so forth. You cannot target all of these possible learning objectives in a 20 or 30 minutes lesson, but instead, you need to pick only one that you would want your students to learn most.
A particular topic can have hundreds of possible learning objectives, but because of the limited amount of time and the target of the lesson, you cannot accommodate all the possible learning outcomes. And that is the job of learning objectives, to point to that very objective what you want your students to learn from the lesson.
As many educators would say, objectives must be written in SMART format: Simple, Measurable, Attainable, Reasonable and Time-bounded. It sounds easy, but actually, deeper thoughts are needed in formulating such learning objectives to come out with a precise learning target.
It is highly suggested that each lesson must include 3 learning objectives at most, and such objectives must include a progression in the thinking level of the students.
Learning Objectives help teachers hit the target! So, when we give importance to the learning objectives of our lessons, we give importance to the life of the students we mold out of our lessons.
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You're right about learning objectives. They should anchor lessons so that these are actually learned and not just taught. It is tempting though to dive right into activities and implement various strategies just to get some action done. Deciding on objectives, defining them, and actually sticking to learning activities that meet these objectives requires discipline badly needed in our classrooms. Keep writing, Pastor Leo!
ReplyDeleteLet us continue to do our best in providing quality education to our students!
DeleteAgree po Sir Son!!!!
ReplyDeleteIt should be well thought of meaning big part of the time in preparing the lesson is in making objectives. Not least as you said. How the teacher make objectives will display what kind of teacher s/he is.
ReplyDeleteyeah, ang hirap kasi din mag formulate ng objectives eh hehehe :)
DeleteSapul ako dun ah! Thank u sir for teaching us bout this...
ReplyDeleteI remember those times when I did my lesson plan, I always start with the planning of activities rather than thinking of the objectives first. It's so wrong...Thinking that that would be the easier way to do it...
ReplyDeleteThank u for ur reminder Sir Son :)