* Specific: The objective clearly defines what learners will be able to do. Vague terms are avoided. Instead of "understand electricity," a specific objective might be "explain the difference between series and parallel circuits." Specificity ensures that both the instructor and the learner know exactly what is expected.
* Measurable: The objective includes criteria for determining whether learning has occurred. This means there's a way to assess whether the learner has achieved the objective. For example, "correctly identify 80% of the components on a circuit diagram" is measurable, while "appreciate the beauty of mathematics" is not.
* Attainable/Achievable: The objective should be realistic and within the learners' capabilities, given their prior knowledge and the available time and resources. Setting unattainably high standards can be demotivating.
* Relevant/Result-oriented: The objective should be relevant to the overall course goals and meaningful to the learners. It should contribute to a larger learning outcome and not be isolated or arbitrary.
* Time-bound: The objective should specify a timeframe for achieving it. This could be the end of a lesson, a unit, or the course itself. For example, "by the end of the lesson, students will..."
Beyond SMART, other important characteristics include:
* Learner-centered: Objectives should focus on what the learner will be able to *do* as a result of instruction, not what the instructor will *do*. The emphasis is on the learner's performance.
* Action verbs: Objectives should be stated using observable and measurable action verbs (e.g., identify, list, explain, analyze, evaluate, create). Avoid vague verbs like "understand" or "appreciate."
* Clear and concise: Objectives should be easy to understand and free of jargon.
* Positive phrasing: Objectives should describe what learners *will be able to do*, not what they *will not be able to do*.
By adhering to these characteristics, instructional objectives become powerful tools for guiding instruction, assessment, and learning. They ensure that teaching and learning are focused, purposeful, and effective.