Each instructional session we plan, should be prepared keeping objectives and learning outcome in mind. Session objective defines the type of learning that will occur at the conclusion of instruction and the assessment criterion.
Stating clear session objectives is important because:
- It clarifies what is expected from the learners
- Objectives steer the content and teaching methods
- Assessment and grading is based on the objectives
The method described here to prepare objectives is known as ABCD method. The name of the ABCD format for writing instructional objectives is simply a mnemonic for:
- Audience: WHO? Your audience / learners!
- Behavior: WHAT? What is expected to be done from learners?
- Condition: UNDER WHAT? Important conditions under which the learning is to occur
- Degree: HOW WELL? How much will be accomplished? How well?
The examples of the objectives in ABCD format:
- Given a diode, power supply and accessories (condition), students of 3rd semester electronics engineering (audience) will perform VI characteristic test on diode (behavior) to draw VI characteristic on graph and identify cut-in voltage of the diode with 1 decimal precision (degree).
- Given all the basic shapes - cone, cylinder, cube, and sphere (condition), each second-semester geometry student (audience) will identify (behavior) orally each shape (degree).
Let’s practice:
Identify the ABCD parameters from the following sentence and rewrite the objective in ABCD format:
“After going through this chapter on electronic memories you will be able to compare different memory types based on their construction and applications.”
