Online Learning Module Template (1/4)
Online Learning Module Template (1/4)
INTRODUCTION
Before we begin, it is assumed that you have chunked your course into conceptually related
content that can be taught in a logical and progressive model. These chunks will the modules of
your course.
Take a quick look at the format of this module. You will find that in this course, all modules
have the same components:
1. Introduction
2. Objectives
3. Content
4. Activities/assignments
5. References
These are the components we will work on in this course. For this module, we will focus on
writing the learning objectives per module of a course. You will be introduced to models of
writing learning objectives and will be formulating learning objectives in your course
OBJECTIVES
After working on this module, you should be able to:
1. Formulate the learning objectives per module.
Guide Questions
As you go through this module, keep in mind your modules’ learning objectives. Are they formulated
correctly?
FORMULATING THE LEARNING OBJECTIVES PER MODULE
Learning objectives are written with learners in mind (what learners will be able to do), while
course goals are written from the perspective of program developers (what the course hope to
achieve). Some principles in formulating learning objectives are shown below (Carnegie Mellon,
2014):
Learning objectives should be student‐centered.
Learning objectives should break down the task and focus on specific cognitive
processes.
Learning objectives should use action verbs.
Learning objectives should be measurable.
Learning objectives are stated using verbs that describe the learner’s expected behavior or
action. Bloom’s taxonomy of cognitive learning objectives includes the following hierarchical
levels: knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. Read more
about Bloom’s Taxonomy to guide you in choosing action verbs for each cognitive level. Ideally,
the learning objectives for each module should be stated with reference to the higher‐order
thinking skills.
In addition, learning objectives should be stated as clearly and as precisely as possible. Read
about the ABCD of Learning Objectives to help you formulate well‐stated learning objectives:
Audience (Who will do the behavior?)
Behavior (What should the learner be able to do?)
Condition (Under what conditions do you want the learner to be able to do it?)
Degree (How well must it be done?)
You may also view this video on the ABCD’s of Writing Learning Objectives.
An example of an objective written in the ABCD format is:
After going through this module [the condition], the learner [the audience] should be able to
formulate a detailed plan for delivering a course online [the behavior] that integrates
constructivist learning principles [the degree].
Assignment 1‐1
Define the learning objectives for each module
Objective: Formulate the learning objectives for each module
Task: For each module in your, formulate the module learning objectives
Tools & Resources: ABCD format, Bloom’s taxonomy
Procedure: Formulate a set of learning objectives for each module using the ABCD format.
Refer to Bloom’s taxonomy when choosing the verbs for the learning objectives. Write the
learning objectives per module in the table below.
Submit your table in the discussion forum provided. Comment on at least one submission.
REFERENCES
The following open educational resources (OER) have been adapted to create this module.
University of the Philippines Open University. (n.d.). Developing Course Materials: Planning the
Course Modules. Retrieved from http://faculty.upou.edu.ph.
SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS
Bates, A.W. and Poole, G. (2003). Effective Teaching with Technology in Higher Education. San
Francisco: Jossey‐Bass.
Beetham, H. (2007). An approach to learning activity design. In Beetham, H and Sharpe, R.
(Eds.) Rethinking Pedagogy for a Digital Age. London and New York: Routledge.
Carnegie Mellon. Teaching Excellence & Educational Innovation: Articulate Your Learning
Objectives. Available
at https://www.cmu.edu/teaching/designteach/design/learningobjectives.html. Last accessed
15 May 2014
Carnegie Mellon. Teaching Excellence & Educational Innovation: Bloom’s Taxonomy. Available
at https://www.cmu.edu/teaching/designteach/design/bloomsTaxonomy.html. Last accessed
15 May 2014
Carnegie Mellon. Teaching Excellence & Educational Innovation: Learning Objectives Samples.
Available at http://www.cmu.edu/teaching/designteach/design/learningobjectives‐
samples/. Last accessed 15 May 2014
Illinois Online Network. Developing Course Objectives. Available
at http://www.ion.uillinois.edu/resources/tutorials/id/developObjectives.asp. Last accessed
15 May 2014.
Jankowski, T. (2015). ABCD's of Writing Lesson Objectives. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhrMWIZlhto.
Compiled by Ling McDermott
April 2020
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution‐NonCommercial‐ShareAlike 4.0
International License.