Through exceptional learning and performance, we create a world that works better. 

 
 
Home  >  ASTD  >  Volunteering and Career Opportunities  >  Speaking Opportunities  >  Application
 

How to Write Application-Focused

Learning Objectives

The reason ASTD puts so much emphasis on how you write your learning objectives is to strongly encourage you to think deeply about the session you are proposing. We want these sessions to be top-of-the-line in terms of content, delivery, and applicability for the learner. Session participants evaluate sessions positively or negatively according to how much they can use the information on the job. If you follow the tips below for writing your learning objectives and develop your session accordingly, you will have a premier offering!

1.  Limit learning objectives to three (one or two are also acceptable) that answer one or both of these questions:

  • How will the person attending your session be able to use the content? How will the participants be able to take action on the information from your session back on their job?
  • What results will they be able to produce because they came to your session?

2.   Make the learning objective application-focused by beginning your objective with action words like apply, analyze, develop, examine, assess, and evaluate.

Avoid using these words: identify, explore, discuss, or describe. Go for a deeper skill level. For example:

  • Correct: Apply the five-step communication model in your organization.
  • Incorrect: Discuss a five-step communication model.

3.  Avoid passive words like learn, understand, and know and extra words like learn creative techniques to design or determine how to analyze.Go right to the action word: Design, Analyze, etc., for the lead in. For example:

  • Correct: Design creative learning experiences.
  • Incorrect: Learn creative techniques to design learning experiences.