Behavioral Objectives

Source: from trainee teachers' notes and assignments in workshops for new teachers, 2002

A good workable  specific objective should satisfy the following conditions:

1. It should be stated in terms of student behavior.

For example,

By the end of this period/ lesson/unit, pupils are  expected to be able to: 

a.      pronounce correctly the new words in the lesson

b.     use the new words in meaningful sentences

c.     read silently the reading passage  within a given time answer the

d.     comprehension questions.

2.    It  should be measurable. For example, in the following statements, the first one is measurable,

he second is not measurable and the focus is not specific.   

a.      to recognize the grammatical structure N+ Verb to be+ adj.

b.     to master the basic English structures

Classification of Educational Objectives

Educational objectives which deal with cognitive ( mental) behavior may be classified  as follows:

1.                 Knowledge

       The term knowledge  covers behavior of remembering previously learnt material. This includes knowledge of terms, facts, rules, principles, theories and generalizations etc. 

Examples:

a.      to write the following words with correct spelling

b.     to pronounce the following words correctly

c.     to underline the grammatical mistakes in a given sentence

d.     to distinguish minimal pairs on hearing them

e.      to answer correctly questions about the days of the week, months and seasons

f.       to match words with their synonyms/ antonyms

Comprehension :

   Comprehension covers such behavior as “ understanding” details of facts in a communication. This includes understanding the meaning of a passage, explaining the meaning of words and expressions, summarizing the main ideas, and adding suitable material.

Examples;

a.      to answer the comprehension questions based on a reading text/ diagrams, charts…

b.     to explain the meaning of vocabulary items/ expressions in

c.     a text.

d.     to summarize the main ideas

e.      to suggest a suitable title for a text

f.       to provide examples similar to those mentioned in the text

g.     to rephrase all ( or parts) of a communication.

Application

    Application means the ability to use rules , principles , theories, methods in  an unfamiliar/ unseen situation. This includes working on an exercise  according to a certain rule, applying a grammatical rule in spoken or written production.

 Examples:

a.      to change statements into negative, interrogative, passive voice, reported speech, simple past tense…

b.     to use words in meaningful sentences

c.     to make Yes/ No questions or Wh-questions using

d.     auxiliary verbs

e.      to punctuate a paragraph using certain punctuation marks.

f.       to form the correct tag questions.

Analysis

     Analysis means breaking down a communication ( written or spoken) into its components. This involves understanding the relationship of the components to one another.

  Examples:

a.      to analyze a complex sentence into main clause and subordinate clause

b.     to show the relationship between two words ( noun, pronoun)

c.     to find out the topic sentence in a paragraph

d.     to analyze a sentence pattern into its elements ( subject, verb, object…

e.      to draw conclusions

f.       to distinguish between facts and opinions.

Synthesis

   Synthesis is the skill of constructing  a text/ communication using various elements.

 Examples:

a.      to write a paragraph on a given topic

b.     to complete an unfinished text.

c.     to give a speech on a given topic

d.     to form a sentence using given  ( jumbled) words or phrases

e.      to write a personal or business letter or advertisement

Evaluation

   This is the highest and most advanced educational objective. It means providing judgments concerning merits , values or other attributes of a communication. In order to pass a judgment one needs to know  a communication, to comprehend it  and perhaps go through other mental processes like analysis and synthesis.

   Examples:

a.      to criticize a written communication ( a composition)

b.     to evaluate one’s oral production in terms of correct pronunciation,

c.     clarity, meaningfulness, choice of words.

to evaluate a passage or an essay with regard to : relevance of the topic, accuracy, suitability of style, organization, unity---