Lesson Objectives
Are they always necessary?
Lesson objectives can deter us from voyaging into unchartered waters.
Main Section
Is it always good practice to write learning objectives on the board at the start of a lesson? Some senior leadership teams insist on it. Is it possible that learning objectives can inhibit the learning process?
Lesson Objectives: Pros & Cons
The main reasons for sharing objectives are:
- To ensure that we have thought about what we want the children to learn. We are sometimes guilty of using an activity without unravelling what it’s for.
- To ensure that the students feel comfortable knowing what is expected. Children need to know that they have been successful in their learning.
I feel that both of the above can be achieved without necessarily stating the learning objectives.
On the other hand, a learning objective can…
- put some pupils off before the lesson has even begun. The language can be confusing, it can sound daunting, boring, uninspiring…….
- pre-judge the direction a lesson will take. It can prevent a lesson from launching into a voyage of discovery.
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Pedagogy