This paper 1) discusses the problems encountered in preparing objectives for instructional programs; 2) describes an informal research project in which seven instructional designers working on the same project attempted to determine agreement on an objective; and 3) suggests how to prepare objectives so that difficulties can be minimized. One…

In the current trend toward improvement of instruction and accountability, the writing of objectives has become an almost universal requirement. Objectives, in fact, may be at a general, specific, or competency level, but it is impossible to begin to write any of these until a course configuration (format) has been developed. Construction of a…

Presents a list of objectives drawn from results of a questionnaire sent to secondary and college chemistry teachers to indicate which ideas or concepts should be required of every student completing a secondary level chemistry course. Reviews rationale for the study and lists statements used in the questionnaire. (SK)

This two-part paper describes the working assumptions approach to early program evaluation and illustrates the approach with a study of a new social science curriculum in American ethnic pluralism for community colleges. Part I begins by providing a rationale for early program evaluation and describing the working assumptions approach as a model…

A well-designed curriculum depends on clearly specified objectives. An abuse-avoidance technique can be used to write these objectives. The Air University, charged with building professional competence of officers and airmen, has to determine educational requirements. The curriculum, based on these requirements, usually consists of broadly worded…

Components of national undergraduate geography major curricula are reviewed, followed by discussion of a behavioral approach to curriculum theory and a case study which incorporates behavioral objectives in curriculum development. Surveys in 1968 and 1974 revealed that most undergraduate major geography programs are loosely structured and contain…

An instructional unit, "Coping in the World of Work: Practice in Problem Solving," designed to assist 11th and 12th grade high school students in developing the ability to solve vocational adjustment problems was developed and evaluated. Instructional goals of the unit included the following: (1) To become acquainted with the range of job…

Four factors essential to determining how many items should be constructed or sampled for a set of objectives are examined: (1) importance and type of decisions to be made with the results; (2) importance and emphases assigned to the instructional and behavioral objectives; (3) number of objectives; (4) practical constraints, such as item writing…

A position is put forth on the appropriate content of a computer literacy course and the role of computer literacy in the community college. First, various definitions of computer literacy are examined, including the programming, computer awareness, and comprehensive approaches. Next, five essential components of a computer literacy course are…

In response to a low passing rate in a general psychology course taught at Howard Community College (MD), as well as to student and instructor dissatisfaction with the course, a systems model was developed and applied to improve course quality. The development of the model involved nine steps: (1) enumerating precise skill objectives which could…