Before the planner
even begins to develop a program or workshop, he/she must create a set of
learning objectives for the learner. Learning
objectives should be carefully reviewed “because they set the tone and
direction for what the participants are expected to do and learn during the instructional
activity” (Caffarella 182). I understand
this to mean that learning objectives are important to students retaining the knowledge
which they seek. Students should be able
to complete the tasks that are stated in the objectives. If not, then the learning objects will not
match the intended outcomes.
Learning objectives
are necessary for a few reasons. For the
design of the program, focus and consistency is of overall importance because
the objectives need to be clear to everyone involved. They are also necessary to evaluate what the
students or participants have learned and the objectives serve as directions to
help learners organize their learning (Caffarella 184). A workshop or program without learning
objectives is like a movie without a plot.
Action is going on within the workshop or movie but there does not seem
to be a point to it all. If the instructor has
no point as to why they are teaching the workshop, the learners will likely not
understand or retain the information being taught. Learning objectives should be created with
action words and take into account the who (learner), the how (action verb) and
the what (context) of what is to be expected. What I have found in reading about learning objectives is that it is important for the planner to know what the organizational structure is, what the mission of the organization is and how the program will help the company in fulfilling their mission. The design backward approach, indicated by the image below, can be used in developing effective programs or workshops that work within the organizational frame work. If the planner knows what the learning outcomes that comprise the organization's corporate culture, it is a strong indication that the learning outcomes of the programs/workshops will mirror that of the organization.


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