May 2012 • Volume 43 • Number 5 • Page 16-24
Clearly Communicating the Learning Objective Matters!
Clearly communicating lesson objectives supports student learning and positive behavior.
*This We Believe Characteristics
- Meaningful Learning
- Multiple Learning Approaches
- Varied Assessments
*Denotes the corresponding characteristics from AMLE's position paper, This We Believe, for this article. |
Deborah K. Reed
Article Description: Explicitly communicating objectives is a tenet of effective instruction for students with learning difficulties, yet the practice is often overlooked in research. This case study of a novice middle school geography teacher illustrates how the qualitative and quantitative differences in the ways a teacher communicates the learner expectation can influence both student learning and behavior. Contrary to concerns that objective-led lessons result in student passivity and superficial learning, lessons that maintained a focus on a well-crafted objective actually increased student engagement and fostered opportunities for deeper thinking. Examples of the three steps in clearly communicating objectives are provided in connection with teacher—student dialogue, highlighting what happens when the steps are and are not present in the instruction.
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Deborah K. Reed is an assistant professor in the College of Education at the University of Texas at El Paso. E-mail: dkreed@utep.edu
Copyright © 2012 Association for Middle Level Education