ACE Teaching Standard 5 – Design and plan the best learning programme.

Writing learning objectives helps you to focus on what you want ACE learners to know, to do and what attitudes you want to encourage.

Learning objectives need to be specific to each activity (concise), and to be written so that at the end of the activity both learners and ACE tutors can review whether the learning objectives have been achieved (measureable) and when they need to achieve them by (time frame).

The key to writing specific learning objectives is choosing the right words to describe what it is the learner will do during the activity (observable). Creating learning objectives that are relevant to the learning and achievable allows the learners the best chance of success. 

Two questions you could ask before writing a learning objective could be:

• What do I want the learner to know at the end of the lesson?
• What do I want the learner to be able to do at the end of this lesson?

These are some words that could be used to write specific learning outcomes

Where students are learning a new skill

Where students are gaining knowledge

Where students are improving comprehension or analysing

Words and phrases to avoid

Here are some examples of learning objectives

Computing for over 50's Learning outcomes

1. Use four programmes at an elementary level
2. Create a basic document using each programme
3. Print and save own work
4. Demonstrate confidence in using the computer

Basic cooking Learning outcomes

1. Read and follow a recipe
2. Purchase and prepare ingredients for a simple meal
3. Cook a meal
4. Demonstrate awareness of safety issues when cooking.

Driver's Learner Licence course Learning outcomes

1. Read and discuss the Road Code as a group
2. Complete sample Learner Licence test each session
3. Improve performance in sample tests
4. Prepare to sit Learner's Licence.

Things you could search if you want to learn more:

• SMART objectives
• Bloom's Taxonomy
• Writing Clear and Measurable Learning Objectives