Assess Your Knowledge of Instructional Objectives in Health Education

Instructional Objectives in Health Education

• Instructional objectives are statements that define what learners are expected to gain from a Health Education Plan (HEP).
• SMART objectives are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, time-bound, observable, measurable, achievable, and simply stated.
• To write effective objectives, it is important to specify the type of learning, state the objective from the learner's point of view, state the terminal behavior, specify the conditions under which the behavior will be performed, and state the degree of proficiency or criteria expected.
• Objectives can be classified into four domains: cognitive, affective, motor skill, and interpersonal.
• Well-stated objectives follow the ABCDs framework: Audience, Behavior, Condition, and Degree.
• Certain verbs are recommended for writing objectives, such as explain, recognize, choose, describe, identify, select, classify, demonstrate, list, and state.
• Poorly-written objectives lack clarity or specificity, such as missing conditions, criteria, or measurable terms, or containing multiple behaviors or missing time frames.
• Examples of well-written objectives include the learner's ability to trace the conduction system of the peripheral nervous system using a schematic diagram, conduct a thorough interview with a simulated patient with arthritis, verbalize feelings or concerns associated with wearing a colostomy bag, or state examples of high sources of protein.
• Examples of poorly-written objectives include the patient's ability to prepare a menu using low-salt foods without conditions or criteria, or understanding how to control low-back pain without measurable terms or criteria.
• Instructional objectives help ensure that learning outcomes are clear and measurable, and that learners can successfully achieve their goals.
• Health educators, nurses, and other healthcare professionals can use instructional objectives to design effective educational programs, develop appropriate assessment tools, and evaluate the effectiveness of their teaching strategies.
• By focusing on specific, measurable, and achievable outcomes, instructional objectives can help learners improve their knowledge, skills, and attitudes towards health and wellness, and ultimately achieve better health outcomes.