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Need to create achievable learning objectives for your students? Not sure how to approach designing or explaining these learning objectives? In my recent instructional design research, I learned about the ABCD model for creating a learning objective. Find out more in this post.
ABCD Model Video Explanation
ABCD Model
A is for Audience
The audience is made up of the people who need to be able to achieve the learning objective. This could be students in one course, a whole grade level, a department at a company, or employees with the same title. Or another group. Basically, who needs to accomplish the objective?
Example: My ENC 1101 students…
B is for Behavior
The behavior is the action that the audience needs to do in order to achieve the learning objective. Try to focus on one behavior rather than multiple in one learning objective. This behavior is further defined using the final two elements of this model.
Example: …can create an argumentative thesis statement…
C is for Condition
The condition is the contextual or environmental requirements for the behavior. What is and isn’t allowed when the audience is acting out the behavior needed to achieve the learning objective.
Example: …without assistance from their peers or instructor…
D is for Degree
The degree further defines the required behavior by describing the level the behavior must reach in order to be considered a success. This can be a score or percentage, or it can be an effect of the behavior.
Example: …to the extent that their thesis can support a paper of at least 5 pages.
My ENC 1101 students can create an argumentative thesis statement without assistance from their peers or instructor to the extent that their thesis can support a paper of at least 5 pages.
Learning Objective
Final Thoughts
This is just one way to approach creating a learning objective. You can keep it simple with just having an audience and behavior. But, including the condition and degree can help give learners a better idea of what they should be aiming for when completing an activity. If you want to learn more about instructional design concepts, check out my post about the ADDIE model.
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