1. A statement of instructional objectives is a collection of words or symbols describing one of your educational intents.
2. Behavioral Objectives: An objective will communicate your intent to the degree you have described what the learner will be DOING when demonstrating his achievement and how you will know when he is doing it.
3. Cognitive Objectives: A cognitive objective is developmental, representing roads to travel rather than terminal points.
4. Behavioral objectives define the criterion of acceptable performance and the important conditions under which the behavior is to occur.
5. Cognitive objectives define the 'growth' path to be taken by the learner
6. Write a separate statement for each objective. (The more statements you have, the better chance you have of making clear your intent.)

• A statement of objectives should describe both the kind of behavior expected and the content or the context to which that behavior applies.
• Complex objectives need to be stated analytically and specifically enough so that there is no doubt as to the kind of behavior expected, or what the behavior applies to.
• Objectives should also be so formulated that there are clear distinctions among learning experiences required to attain different behaviors.
• Objectives should be realistic.

• Knowledge (facts, ideas, concepts)
• Reflective thinking (interpretation of data, application of facts and principles, logical reasoning)
• Values and attitudes
• Sensitivities and feelings
• Skills
• Change in practice

• An objective is essentially rational, being an attempt to impose a logical pattern on some of the activities of life.
• An objective is practical.
• Objectives lie at the end of actions designed to lead to them.
• Objectives are usually pluralistic and require the use of judgment to provide a proper balance in their accomplishment.
• Objectives are hierarchical.
• Objectives are discriminative.
• Objectives change during the learning process.

• Educational objectives may be stated in terms of the desired accomplishments of the learner.
• Education objectives may also be stated in terms of the principles of action that are likely to achieve desired changes in the learner.
• The understanding and acceptance of educational objectives will usually be advanced if they are developed cooperatively.
• An objective should be stated clearly enough to indicate to all rational minds exactly what is intended.

Knowles, Malcolm A. The Adult Learner: A Neglected Species. Houston: Gulf Publishing Company, 1990. pp. 137-139.