Program Elements
Learning Objectives
What are Learning Objectives?
Learning objectives describe what learners must be able to do by the end of a learning experience. They use action-focused verbs aligned to Bloom’s Taxonomy, such as apply, analyse, demonstrate, or evaluate.
Why do Learning Objectives matter?
Learning objectives anchor the entire learning experience. They ensure training addresses required behaviours and capabilities, guiding design, practice, assessment, and evaluation.
What do Learning Objectives include?
What organisational or strategic elements influence learning objectives?
Objectives must align with organisational priorities, role expectations, capability frameworks, and behaviours that drive performance. Emergent Learning supports organisations to define objectives that align with strategic and operational needs.
What analysis informs objective development?
Developing objectives involves analysing tasks, identifying decision points, evaluating common errors, and clarifying required skill levels. Emergent Learning translates performance expectations into clear, actionable objectives.
What implementation or resource considerations are involved?
Objectives shape content, practice, delivery mode, and assessment decisions. Emergent Learning uses objectives as the foundation for content architecture so every design element is purposeful.
What results or outcomes do well-designed objectives produce?
Clear objectives produce targeted learning, stronger learner confidence, accurate assessment, and improved performance.
What partnership or support elements are required?
Effective objectives emerge from collaboration between designers, leaders, and SMEs. Emergent Learning facilitates these discussions to ensure objectives reflect real work requirements.
What investment considerations influence objective development?
Effective objectives emerge from collaboration between designers, leaders, and SMEs. Emergent Learning facilitates these discussions to ensure objectives reflect real work requirements.
What does an effective learning objective process look like?
Where do I start?
Begin by identifying what learners must be able to demonstrate after training. Emergent Learning helps define required performance before content is created.
What is involved in designing learning objectives?
It involves clarifying behaviours, conditions, and standards of performance. Emergent Learning converts performance needs into measurable objectives.
What does the process produce?
It produces action-focused, measurable statements that guide structure, sequence, and emphasis.
What is the expected outcome?
Training that improves capability, performance, and consistency. Emergent Learning aligns objectives with frameworks and business outcomes.
How can organisations improve their learning objectives?
How can we create clearer learning objectives?
Use measurable verbs and link objectives to specific performance expectations. Emergent Learning strengthens objectives to ensure they reflect realistic tasks.
How do we keep learning objectives relevant across different roles?
Connect them to capability needs and role contexts. Emergent Learning validates relevance with stakeholders.
How can we support SMEs to write better objectives?
Provide guidance and examples that help SMEs convert expertise into measurable outcomes. Emergent Learning offers coaching and templates.
How do we measure whether objectives are effective?
Assess whether learners perform the desired behaviours in real work situations.
Examples of Learning Objectives in organisations
A customer service program defines behavioural objectives that shape scenarios.\nA safety program uses precise objectives aligned with compliance.\nA leadership program applies layered objectives to guide long-term development.