Developing Effective Learning Objectives

A learning objective defines what we want the learners to know and/or be able to do by the end of a given learning experience.

By contrast, course goals are what we want the course to accomplish. Both should be “SMART”: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Targeted/Time-bound.

The following resources are aimed at helping faculty draft SMART learning objectives and course goals:

• Writing Course Goals and Objectives – Outlines the differences between course goals and learning objectives and provides tips for writing both

• Writing Measurable Objectives - Addresses how to write attainable, measurable objectives (Source: Teacher & Educational Development, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, 2005)

• Ten Steps to Effective Teaching as a Non-physician Educator (McNally, 2012)