The Aims, Goals, and Objectives of Curriculum What are the differences?

Definition Examples These are intended to be a bit

extreme, but perhaps you will get the points.
Aims are general statements that provide
direction or intent to educational action. Aims are
usually written in amorphous terms using words
like: learn, know, understand, appreciate, and
Aims these are not directly measurable. Aims may Students will understand and become proficient at
serve as organizing principles of educational identifying the different types of spoken English.
direction for more than one grade. Indeed these
organizing principles may encompass the
continuum of educational direction for entire
programs, subject areas or the district.
Students will be able to identify and use American
slang terms and phrases.
Goals are statements of educational intention
which are more specific than aims. Goals too may (This example is a subset of the aim above, but the
encompass an entire program, subject area, or area becomes more specific. This goal moves from
multiple grade levels. They may be in either generic spoken English to the more detailed area of
Goals amorphous language or in more specific behavioral American slang. One verb used is still identify,
terms. although this goal does not specify how students are
to identify, and the verb use has been added. The
objectives related to this goal should specify how the
students will identify and use new knowledge.)
Objectives are usually specific statements of
educational intention which delineate either
general or specific outcomes. There are Objectives can be written in a number of ways.
advantages and disadvantages to different types Currently, most objectives are written in behavioral
of objectives. terms. Behavioral objectives usually employ
observable verbiage and can be divided into specific
Behavioral objectives domains cognitive (head), affective (heart), and
physical (hand).
Holistic objectives
Samples:
Nonbehavioral objectives

Objectives Problem solving objectives

Cognitive: Students will identify and list 5 slang

Expressive activities that lead to expressive
terms they have heard from their peers.
outcomes.

Affective: Student will choose 3 of the most

All of the above are legitimate ways to write
offensive slang terms from a list developed by the
curriculum and lesson plans. However, currently,
entire class.
most objectives are written in behavioral terms.
Behavioral objectives usually employ observable
Physical: Students will create expressive gestures
verbiage and can be divided into specific domains
to go with their favourite slang terms.
cognitive (head), affective (heart), and physical
(hand)

*Note: The examples to the right are meant to be a bit silly

intentionally as to help my students remember them. Of course
I would not do this in a classroom, although I am sure students
would think it rather fun!
What are the Differences between Aims and Objectives?

Aims are general statements concerning the overall goals, ends or intentions of teaching. Objectives are the
individual stages that learners must achieve on the way in order to reach these goals.

Example a teacher might have an aim that a learner should be able to save work on a computer. To achieve this
aim a series of objectives must be met. eg to create a folder, navigate between menus, save a document.

Aims are general, objectives are specific.

There are more objectives than aims.
Aims are like strategy, objective are like tactics.

Aims and objectives can form hierarchical structures so that in complex curricula aims at one level might be
seen as objectives at another.

What are the main categories of learning objectives?

Learning objectives are aimed at the three domains of learning: knowledge, skills and attitudes.

Why use learning objectives?

If you dont use objectives, how can you build in assessing of learning (what would you assess?) and how can you
measure if your teaching is being effective and learners are learning? The objectives you set help you plan,
clarify and prioritise the learning.
How do you write aims and learning objectives?

What do you want your learners to be able to DO after they have learned something that you have taught (bear
in mind students may learn many things with you but use judgment to focus on the most important outcomes at
this stage in their course)

So the aims and objectives for one possible teaching sequence might look like the following:

Aims:

The learner can create a story sack for their child

Objectives:

1. Understands key learning points for young children from creative play
2. Can list at least 5 suitable objects for story sacks
3. Can identify 3 sources of equipment for story sacks
4. Can explain how to make finger puppets from scratch
5. Can describe 2 methods for fastening material

Objectives do not include the word 'know' or 'understand'. They do include active verbs such as 'state',
'explain', 'outline', 'list' or 'describe'. They are statements of what you want your learners to do.

Examples of learning objectives verbs

The following lists contain examples of verbs which describe the sorts of things you want your students to be
able to do and may help you to write useful learning objectives.

Knowledge

analyse arrange calculate circle cite

classify compare contrast compare define
describe match differentiate group identify
interpret itemize label list match
name outline plan record revise
select solve state Give examples
evaluate recognise

Skills

adjust assemble chart collect use

draw employ establish illustrate imitate
interact locate maintain measure modify
make organise rearrange return set up
practice manipulate master fit perform
demonstrate
Attitudes

accept adopt advocate approve assess

challenge characterise choose criticise defend
evaluate formulate judge justify manage
model persuade recommend resolve select
specify value reassure empathise

Adapting learning objectives to be more, or less, challenging

You can change the verbs to be more complex, or add conditions.

For example, simple objectives might be to list or state facts. More challenging objectives might ask learners to
apply or use knowledge in a particular context. Higher levels of objectives ask learners to solve complex
problem. This might involve gathering information, researching and analysing, or using knowledge to create
something in a difference context (e.g. use knowledge of making apple pie to design a different filling)

Labelling something already created, or choosing from options is less challenging than creating your own list, or
drawing your own diagram.

Objectives can be altered by degree e.g. demonstrating 5 ways to multiply 2 digit numbers is more challenging
than modelling one way of multiplying.
 Definition Examples These are intended to be a bit
extreme, but perhaps you will get the points.
Los objetivos son declaraciones generales que
proporcionan direccin o intencin a la accin
educativa. Los objetivos se suelen escribir en
trminos amorfos utilizando palabras como:
Aims aprender, conocer, entender, apreciar, y estos no Los estudiantes entendern y llegarn a ser
son directamente mensurables. Los objetivos competentes para identificar los diferentes tipos
pueden servir como principios organizadores de la de ingls hablado.
direccin educativa para ms de un grado. De
hecho, estos principios organizativos pueden
abarcar el continuo de direccin educativa para
programas enteros, reas temticas o el distrito.
Los estudiantes sern capaces de identificar y usar
trminos y frases de argot estadounidenses.
Los objetivos son declaraciones de intencin
educativa que son ms especficas que objetivos. (Este ejemplo es un subconjunto de la meta anterior,
Las metas tambin pueden abarcar todo un pero el rea se vuelve ms especfica.Este objetivo se
programa, rea temtica o varios niveles de grado. mueve desde el ingls hablado genrico al rea ms
Goals Pueden estar en lenguaje amorfo o en trminos de detallada de jerga estadounidense.Un verbo utilizado
comportamiento ms especficos todava es "identificar", aunque este objetivo no
especifica cmo Los estudiantes deben identificar, y
se ha agregado el verbo "uso" Los objetivos
relacionados con este objetivo deben especificar
cmo los estudiantes identificarn y usarn los nuevos
conocimientos.)
Los objetivos suelen ser declaraciones especficas
de intencin educativa que delimitan los
resultados generales o especficos. Existen Los objetivos se pueden escribir de varias maneras.
ventajas y desventajas para diferentes tipos de Actualmente, la mayora de los objetivos se escriben
objetivos. en trminos conductuales. Los objetivos conductuales
suelen emplear verborrea observable y se pueden
Objetivos conductuales dividir en dominios especficos: cognitivo (cabeza),
afectivo (corazn) y fsico (mano).
Objetivos holsticos
Cognitivo: Los estudiantes identificarn y anotarn 5
Objetivos no conductuales trminos de argot que han escuchado de sus
compaeros.
Objectives
Objetivos de resolucin de problemas
Afectivo: El alumno escoger 3 de los trminos de
Actividades expresivas que conducen a argot ms ofensivos de una lista desarrollada por toda
resultados expresivos. la clase.

Todo lo anterior es una forma legtima de escribir Fsica: Los estudiantes crearn gestos expresivos
planes de estudio y lecciones. Sin embargo, para ir con sus trminos de argot favoritos.
actualmente, la mayora de los objetivos se
escriben en trminos de comportamiento. Los
objetivos conductuales usualmente emplean
verborrea observable y pueden ser divididos en
dominios especficos - cognitivo (cabeza), afectivo
(corazn) y fsico (mano)

* Nota: Los ejemplos a la derecha estn

destinados a ser un poco tonto intencionalmente
como para ayudar a mis estudiantes a recordarlos.
Por supuesto que no hara esto en un aula, aunque
estoy seguro de que los estudiantes pensarn que
es bastante divertido!