Educational aims and objectives;

Education is a process which brings about changes in human behavior. Every

individual should have access to a type of education that permits maximum
development of his potentials and capabilities. So, in any educational programme
it is essential that the educational objectives are clearly stated to achieve the
teaching learning process effective.

Definition educational objectives

1. The results sought by the learner at the end of the educational programme.
2. Educational objectives are the desirable outcomes of intended actions
through the mode of action.
3. Educational objectives are the learner centered or behavior centered and
subjected centered.

Formulation of educational objectives

Educational objectives are the statement of those desired change in behavior as a
result of specific teaching learning activity or specific teacher-learner activity.

An educational objective is a specific statement of what the learners should be

able to do at the end of the learning period that could not do before.

Important to use educational objectives

a. To develop mental skills for application in changing situations
Research in education has revealed that the majority of learners study to
pass an examination. Educational objectives help to develop mental skills in
addition to acquiring factual knowledge. If the learners develop mental
 skills to apply learning in changing situations, then they can cope with the
changes brought by new learning
b. To determine curriculum Levels
It has been observed that learners are often required to repeat material
already learned in previous courses. Well stated objectives help that board
of education in arranging the sequence the sequence of courses.
c. To define scope of teaching
Well stated educational objectives enable a nurse educator to understand
the depth of teaching required. In nursing, there are different levels of
trainees requiring different levels of input. The required amount of input at
each level can be specified with the help of the educational objectives.

d. To assess the learners and nurse educational performance

If educational objectives are explicitly stated in advance, they can serve as a
measure to assess the performance of the learner and the educator in a
well established examination system.

Data required for formulating educational objectives

The following information will be formulate educational objectives in an

effective manner
1. Philosophical statement of the institute.
2. Social and health needs of the society.
3. Need of the student.
4. Resources available in the society.
5. Entry criteria of level of student.
6. Specification of positions to be held by the student on the completion of
the programme like staff nurse, nursing tutor, etc.
7. Minimum requirements in terms of clinical and other facilities prescribed
by the statutory bodies like nursing council, universities ect.
8. Future trends in nursing.
 9. Criteria to be fulfilled in order to appear for internationally reputed
qualifying examinations like CGFNS, MOH exams etc.

Criteria for selection and statement of objectives

Following criteria will help to state the objectives in a meaningful way
a. Objectives has to be stated in terms of desired changes in behavior and the
area of subject matter through which behavior is to operate.
b. Objective should be stated be stated in the form which makes them most
helpful in selecting the learning experiences and guiding the reaching
activity.
c. The desired change in behavior should be consist with the accepted
educational objectivity.
d. The objectives for the specific subjects or the units or lessons should be
direct contribution to attain the overall objective of the curriculum.
e. The objective should be attainable and practicable in the specific teaching-
learning situation.
f. Objectives selected should be easily accepted and understood by the
teacher as well as students.
g. Objectives should be cooperatively planed and developed by all teachers
and developed by all teachers and by the teacher and student whenever
and wherever possible.
h. Objectives have to be so worded that each statement contains only a single
objective

Steps in formulation of educational objectives

According to Ralf Tyler, there are nine essential tasks or steps in the formulation
of educational objectives, they are:

 Identify the needs of the learner.

 Identify the needs of the society.
  Study the suggestion of the experts.
 Formulate the philosophy.
 State the objectives gathered from various sources in proper way.
 Formulate the theory of learning.
 Screen the objectives clearly in terms of content.
 State the educational objectives in terms of behavioral outcomes or
change.

Levels of educational objectives

In India a number of universities, hospitals, schools and colleges of nursing are
involved in imparting nursing education. The commonly used levels of
educational objectives are institutional, general instructional and specific
outcomes of learning.

-Harper and Harper 1990.

Level of educational objectives

Educational objectives can be written for the following three common levels;