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A. Teaching Methods
Discussion – Levels of Educational Objectives
Briefly discuss how the following draft objectives fulfill or do not fulfill the “SMART” criteria.
1.
Learning Objective: How water is held and flows within the soil
S:
M:
A:
R:
T:
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Learning objectives should be SMART
A learning objective is a statement that captures precisely what knowledge and skills participants
should be able to show after participating.
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One common misconception is that an objective is what the teacher or facilitator will do,
e.g. “My plan is to talk about…” Notice that the focus is on me, the facilitator instead of the
learners.
Objectives are important for setting expectations and matching content to them. For example, if
you want the participants to be able to show someone else how to do a soil fizz test as one of your
outcomes, but then in your agenda, you don’t give them time to try it on their own or ask questions
about it, you may not be setting them up for success. If you include the objectives in advertising
material, students will know what to expect from the course and what is expected of them and may
choose to participate if the objectives match their individual goals. Thoughtfully crafted objectives
can allow for consistent evaluation of teacher, participant, and curriculum effectiveness (see
Assessment, page 126).
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Specific
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Measurable
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Attainable by target participants within scheduled time and specified conditions
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Relevant and results-oriented
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Targeted to the learner and the desired level of learning