Robert F. Mager, "Objectives", Preparing Instructional Objectives: A Critical Tool in the Development of Effective Instruction.
FYI: I couldn't find a free online resource of the article, "Objectives", in this book. So, If you are interested in this book, it is available at the book stores.
Mager discusses the importance of objectives in order not to lose track of the pedagogical destination. Specifying the objectives will promote a better understanding and communication between a teacher and students.
It will help the teacher to set up criteria for evaluation and to measure students' progress of learning and improvement. Where there is an objective, there is an assessment. Without objectives, students will be perplexed losing sight of a destination. One of the issues we will presume is that teacher's objective does not always meet the needs of students. Therefore, it is important for the teacher to know the purpose and objective of each student.
If the objective is not sufficiently achieved, a teacher must flexibly re-examine the objectives and lesson contents.
Reading the article, "Objectives", we will find the characteristic of objectives as follows;
The educational objectives should be, firstly, realistic. The objective has to clarify what students will be able to do (SWBAT) when they achieve the objective. Setting objectives has to reflect the needs of students. If the objective can successfully fulfill students' needs, their motivation will be boosted. The objective has to be clearly informed to students in advance. It has to involve flexibility which can be revisable according to the situation.
Secondly, the objective has to be comprehensible. Each objective has to be organized being related to each other.
Thirdly, the objective has to be measurable. In order to know whether the objective is achieved or not, it has to be articulated in the observable terms like SWBAT.
Fourthly, the objective has to be behavioral. Through activities such as a game and an interview, the objectives will cover the range of cognitive, affective and psychomotor domain.
Lastly, the objective has to be achievable. Understanding the whole context of learning conditions and the level of students, the goal has to be attainable depending on their efforts.
