Setting goals and objectives (lecture)

Lecture objectives:
Students will be able to
1- grasp the meaning of the following fundamental notions: learning outcomes,
goals, objectives,
2- understand the difference between goals and objectives,
3- recognize the importance of setting goals and objectives,
4- evaluate the effectiveness of goals, characteristics of objectives.
Lecture content:
The conceptualisation of the content relies on turning Needs into learning outcomes
(goals and objectives).
1. What are goals and objectives?
2. Why is it important to set goals and objectives?
3. How to set goals and objectives?

In order for the learners’ needs to be translated into a syllabus, the course designer has to
plan goals and objectives. So this step is a transitional phase between NA and
development and organisation of syllabus.
 Goals
A goal is a statement of a general change that a program seeks to bring about in
learners. It is a description of a general purpose of a curriculum.
Goals => broad intended outcomes.
 Objectives
An objective is a statement of specific changes that a program seeks to bring
about. It results from an analysis of the goal into its different components.
It is a statement of more specific purposes that give a precise focus to a goal. It is
also called instructional/ teaching objectives.
Objectives => narrow intended outcomes.

An example is
Goal: students will be able to understand lectures given in
English.
Objectives:
 Students will be able to follow an argument,
theme, or thesis of a lecture.
 Students will be able to recognise the following
aspects of a lecture
 Cause and effect relationship
 Comparisons and contrasts
 Premises used in persuasive arguments
 Supporting details used in persuasive
arguments

It is important to set goals and objectives because of the following reasons

For goals
 They increase motivation to learn
  They promote the effectiveness of the teaching/ learning process
For objectives
 They facilitate planning the steps of preparing teaching materials.
 Because goals and objectives describe clearly the desired outcomes, the success
of a program can easily be evaluated.
 They objectively guide the planning of a program by prescribing clear outcomes
and leaving no room to subjective interpretations.
To state correctly the goals and the objectives, a number of characteristics are taken into
account
 The use of action verbs referring to observable and measurable
behaviours.
 The formulation of precise and clear objectives.
 The formulation of objectives that re consistent with the curriculum goals.
 The formulation of feasible objectives.
What to avoid
 Poorly formulated objectives including expressions like: will study, will learn
about, will prepare students for… Instead, we can use will be able to, will
learn how to, will have, …
 Vague, ambiguous, and imprecise objectives.
 Objectives inconsistent with curriculum goal.
 Unfeasible objectives. Some outcomes cannot be attained due to unrealistic
course duration.
Task:
A) Based on the results of the needs analysis you have conducted, draft the list of
learning goals for the ESP course you intend to design.
B) Derive from each goal, a set of objectives.