Learning design begins with two questions.

1. What will students know?

2. What will they be able to do?

Establishing a powerful learning objective is the process through which teachers go about answering these questions. It sounds straightforward, but it’s not. Good learning objectives should be:

1. Audience-centered: A description of the knowledge or skills you want learners to gain. ("Students will..." ... "Readers will...")

2. Specific: "Readers will be able to understand the differences between a ROTH and IRA fund."

3. Developmental: Content is building from foundational skills/knowledge to higher-order thinking ---->

"Readers will be able to analyze their investment portfolio and explain its impact on their retirement."

In journalism and communications, establishing "story objectives" could drive content that is more audience-centered. Review these sample learning objectives for a local news story covering school reopenings during COVID-19.

1. Remember: define, list, recognize; 

   The audience will be able to list the key safety protocols needed to be in place for their school’s reopening plan. 

2. Understand: characterize, describe, explain, identify, locate, sort; 

   The audience will be able to explain the rationale behind their school’s safety protocols.

3. Analyze: analyze, categorize, compare, differentiate.

   The audience will be able to analyze how their school’s reopening plan will impact their child’s learning.

The Bottomline

What skills or knowledge do you want your audience to gain?