Primer for Teaching Online
2. Develop Course Goals and Objectives
Course goals and objectives establish the foundation of effective course design. They clarify expected learning outcomes, define the skills students should acquire, and determine how mastery will be assessed
Differences Between Goals and Objectives
- Goals:
Goals are broad, overarching statements that describe the general direction and intended outcomes of a course. They reflect what you aim to accomplish but are typically not directly measurable. - Objectives:
Objectives are specific, measurable statements that define what students should know or be able to do by the end of a lesson, module, or course. They translate goals into concrete, observable, and assessable outcomes.
Samples
Review the following examples from the Auraria Library, University of Colorado, Denver, for the differences between goals and objectives.
Goal 1: Develop Understanding of a Research Topic
Objectives:
- Identify a specific research problem.
- Formulate the information needed as a clear, researchable question.
Goal 2: Understand Library Access Points and Services
Objectives:
- Identify key service points within the Auraria Library.
- Locate research support through the reference desk and relevant departments.
- Access library resources from off-campus locations.
- Identify and use the course reserves system to retrieve assigned materials.
- Differentiate between various information formats and their locations within the library.
