Program Objective Different Than Learning Objective

How Learning Objectives Become Program Objectives

In his essay, "Developing Learning Objectives," Caffarella describes both learning objectives and program objectives. Learning objectives are targeted toward an educational program's participants, while program objectives apply to the program as a whole. It is the goal, then, that learning objectives turn into measurable program objectives. Program participants are supposed to accomplish learning objectives. If most of them do so, then the program planners can call the program objectives satisfied, and call the event a successful event.

In order to turn learning objectives into measurable program objectives that give programmers an idea of the program's success, then, program planners must use careful discretion in how they plan and word learning objectives. Caffarella states that they should be "selected careful because they set the tone and direction of what participants are expected to do and learn during the instruction activity." In this vein, learning objectives can be chosen to fulfill several purposes. They can ask the learners to acquire knowledge, enhance their cognitive schools, develop their psychomotor skills, strength their problem solving and finding capabilities, or change their attitudes, beliefs, are feelings. Program planners can select among these objectives carefully to find their learning objectives. In addition to selecting well, program planners can be sure that the learning objectives are stated clearly, making sure they "say what you want them to say." In addition, Caffarella writes that in order to state these objectives clearly, they should follow a formula: the who or the learner plus the how or the action verb plus the what or the content.

Thus, learning objectives can turn into program objectives when they are chosen carefully and stated clearly. By doing this, the participants can focus their learning to achieving these goals, and can clearly report whether or not they have met them. By studying these reports, the results are measurable, and reflect, in large on the program. Thus, the program planners can determine whether program objectives have been met.