1. Learning Objectives Made Easy
Hello! and welcome to “Learning Objectives Made Easy.’
I’m Marie Day, a graduate student in the Master of Library and Information Science program at Valdosta State University; and this is
Dr. Wilson, [ask for biographical information].
Marie C. Day & Michael W. Wilson
Valdosta State University

2. Abstract
This presentation introduces the ABCD method of writing learning objectives and provides examples applicable to information literacy sessions. Participants will learn the four elements to include in every objective and how objectives can be used to guide the development of assessments. The importance of sound objectives in general will be discussed, and an opportunity will be provided for participants to practice writing their own objectives.

3. Main Objective for This Session
Given a set of examples, participants will be able to identify each of the ABCD elements.
Given access to presentation materials, participants will be able to compose objectives that contain each of the ABCD elements.

4. Learning Objectives Made Easy : Objectives
Why objectives?
Focus the instructional task
Both instructors and students know where they are going
Guide assessment
What are objectives good for? The importance of sound objectives.
They give structure to your session. They give parameters for appropriate decisions about selection or design of instructional materials and methods.
It is easier to decide which assessment tools to use once you know exactly what learners should be able to do as a result of the instruction. How can you evaluate something unless you’ve covered the planned subject?
It helps students decide what actions on their part will most help them achieve the end goal.

5. Learning Objectives Made Easy: Evaluation
Evaluation of learning
Formal
Informal
Formative
Summative
Briefly, on the subject of evaluation: It could be formative, as in I give an example in class and I tell the student if they answered correctly or not.
It could be summative, as in a written test administered after the instruction is complete.
An informal assessment would be for my (the teacher’s) use to see if the students are getting the material. A formal one would be used for program evaluation, say.
No pop quizzes today, you’ll be glad to hear!

6. Learning Objectives Made Easy: Goals
Teaching goals
A goal is a broad statement about what the student is expected to learn
Example: The student will come to appreciate the way that information is structured in a library setting.
Goals are broad, sweeping statement about what I, the teacher, want to accomplish.
[see example]
An objective tells us what the student is going to be able to do as a result of the instruction.

7. Learning Objectives Made Easy: Objectives
An objective is a specific statement about what the student will be able to do as a result of the instruction
Example: Given access to the OPAC, the student will locate and print three book records within three minutes.
A specific statement about what the student will do.

8. Learning Objectives Made Easy: The ABCD Method
Writing objectives
In the ABCD method of writing learning objectives, each objective contains these four elements:
A Audience (who the learners are)
B Behavior (what they do)
C Condition (what they use to do it)
D Degree (how well they do it)
Degree is where evaluation comes in.
Degree is sometimes not necessary in the real world.

9. Learning Objectives Made Easy: Sample
Teaching Goal
The successful student will be able to differentiate between a primary source and a secondary source.
Learning Objective—A, B, C, D.
Given two actual primary sources and two actual secondary sources on a particular topic, students working in small groups will correctly distinguish between the primary and secondary sources 90% of the time.

10. Learning Objectives Made Easy: Try this method yourself
“Given access to the Chemical Abstracts database, undergraduate students will be able to locate three articles on a given topic with 80% accuracy.”
Identify A, B, C, and D.

11. Learning Objectives Made Easy: Identify A, B, C, & D
Given access to EBSCOhost Academic Search Complete, students will use faceted searching techniques to identify and cite three peer-reviewed articles published within the past five years with 100% accuracy. *
Identify A, B, C, and D.
Give the scenario here:
In the medical and scientific community, being able to find reliable and recent information is vital. New discoveries are constantly being made and the Internet is rife with misinformation, as well as anti-scientific and anti-medical propaganda. As such, all pre-medical and science students are required to know how to locate and retrieve up-to-date information from reliable sources. Dr. Brown of the biology faculty has requested her students receive instruction in finding journal articles that are peer-reviewed and published within the last five years in order to complete an essay assignment requiring research using three of the same. We will use a practical and hands on approach in order to better prepare students for real-world application of the techniques presented today. All undergraduates received an introduction to using GALILEO in English 101.
* Matthew Borders and Marie Day,
VSU MLIS 7430 Information Literacy Instruction

12. Learning Objectives Made Easy: Identify A, B, C, & D
Given an MLA Stylesheet Handout and the data for three sources, incoming undergraduate students will format citations with 80% accuracy.*
Identify A, B, C, and D.
Give the scenario here:
This instruction is intended for incoming freshmen undergraduate students. They will be required to write papers and complete assignments that require proper citation formatting throughout their entire career in higher education. While MLA is only one of many citation styles, it is one heavily used on the undergraduate level and we will also mention that once one learns how to cite sources it is relatively easy to learn the particulars of other styles. This will be a one-time 20 minute session taught in an “orientation week” setting.
-- Jason Mailman and Molly Nickerson, VSU MLIS 7430
*Jason Mailman and Molly Nickerson,
VSU MLIS 7430 Information Literacy Instruction

13. Learning Objectives Made Easy
Do you have any examples you’d like try with the ABCD method?

14. Learning Objectives Made Easy: The ABCD Method Reminder
Writing objectives
In the ABCD method of writing learning objectives, each objective contains these four elements:
A Audience (who the learners are)
B Behavior (what they do)
C Condition (what they use to do it)
D Degree (how well they do it)

15. Learning Objectives Made Easy
Thank you for your participation!
Take handouts with you.
Go to for a copy of this presentation.
Marie Day,
Michael Wilson, MLIS, EdD,