Classroom Training
Step #3 - Identify Learning Goals and Objectives
After determining training needs, it is time to identify your goals and write objectives. When developing your learning goals and objectives, you should be able to describe what you expect employees to know and be able to perform tasks and improve performance.
Goals: Learning goals are merely statements describing a general end-state result such as:
- Know the types of fall arrest systems.
- How how to perform first aid.
Objectives: Effective learning objectives describe outcomes in terms of specific, observable, and measurable behaviors. They should be based on an objective training needs analysis, not on conjecture or existing trainer guides. Objectives should specify the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that make performing a task possible. To make sure learning objectives are clear and concise, we encourage using the ABCS model that includes each of these four components: Audience, Behavior, Condition, and Standard.
Four Components of the ABCS Model
Audience: The objective identifies the audience. Example: "each student"
Behavior: The objective should describe a behavior. The behavior is the "action" component that must be observable and measurable. Example: "will list" Each of the following behavioral methods can be used and examples:
- Written exam - answer questions on a written test
- Oral exam - answer questions, give opinions, or describe key elements
- Skill demonstration - don/doff PPE, perform steps of a task
Conditions: The objective should describe the conditions under which performance is measured. Example: "without help" The student may or may not be assisted as a condition under which they must perform. The condition specifies constraints, limitations, and resources such as tools, working aids, assistance, supervision, and physical environment is given to the learner to perform.
Standard: The objective should specify an acceptable standard of performance. It's important to clearly state how well the student must perform. Establish quantitative and qualitative criteria for acceptable performance.
Here are two examples of learning objectives for safety training:
- Given a full body harness, each student will be able to correctly inspect and identify at least two defects in the equipment.
- Given a 10-question written exam on oil and gas electrical safety, each student will be able to correctly answer at least 8 questions.
As you can see, operational objectives are much more specific and detailed than mere safety goals.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
6-6. Which of the following is the best example of a learning objective?
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