How to Turn a Standard into a Learning Objective?

To transform a standard into a learning objective, follow these steps:

Here's a detailed process based on the provided reference material:

Steps to Convert a Standard into a Learning Objective

The core process involves a series of structured steps that ensure the learning objective is clear, measurable, and aligned with educational standards.

1. Start with a Clear Statement: Begin the learning objective with "The student will…" This sets the tone for what the student is expected to achieve.

2. Identify the Relevant Standard: Locate the specific state standard that the objective will address. Append a shorthand abbreviation of this standard to the end of your learning objective for easy reference (e.g., "[State Standard Abbreviation]"). This ensures alignment with curriculum requirements.

3. Choose a Bloom's Taxonomy Verb: Select a verb from Bloom's Taxonomy that accurately reflects the desired level of cognitive engagement. This could range from simple recall ("list") to higher-order thinking skills like evaluation ("critique").

4. Define the Topic: Specify the subject matter or content area the objective covers. This provides context and focus for the learning activity.

5. Incorporate Depth of Knowledge (DOK) Level: Indicate the appropriate Depth of Knowledge (DOK) level. This helps to ensure the complexity of the task aligns with the intended learning outcome.

Example

Let's illustrate with an example. Imagine a state standard (hypothetical): "Students will understand the causes of the American Revolution."

Using the steps above:

1. "The student will…"

2. Let's say our hypothetical state standard abbreviation is "SS.8.AR.1." Add this to the end after creating the objective.

3. Choose a Bloom's verb: Analyze (indicates a higher level of cognitive skill)

4. Topic: Causes of the American Revolution

5. Determine DOK Level: DOK 3 (Strategic Thinking). At this level, students must use reasoning and planning to support their analysis.

Putting it all together, our learning objective would be:

"The student will analyze the causes of the American Revolution [SS.8.AR.1] DOK 3."

Key Considerations

• Measurability: Ensure the objective is written in a way that allows for easy assessment of student understanding.

• Clarity: Use clear, concise language.

• Alignment: Verify that the objective aligns with both the state standard and the instructional activities.

By following these steps, educators can effectively transform broad educational standards into specific, actionable learning objectives.