Objectives vs. outcomes

Which of the following is an objective, not an outcome?

• • Students will design an experiment to test the effect of light on plants.

• • Students designed and presented an experiment on light and plant growth.

• • Students correctly recorded their experimental results.

• • Students concluded that light increases starch in leaves

"After completing the lab, 85% of students correctly explained osmosis.” This is an example of:

• objective

• outcome

Which statement represents an outcome of a lesson on ecosystems?

• • Students will understand the roles of producers and consumers.

• • Students will be able to identify food chain relationships.

• • Students created a food web diagram showing producers, consumers, and decomposers.

• • Students will learn about predator-prey interactions.

The teacher planned: “Students will learn to apply Newton’s laws in solving motion problems.”
After the lesson, students solved three out of four motion problems correctly on a test.
Which is which?

• • First statement = Outcome

  • Second = Objective

• • First statement = Objective

  • Second = Outcome

• • Both are Objectives

• • Both are Outcomes

Which pair best illustrates the difference between objective and outcome?

• • Objective: Students will know the periodic table.
    Outcome: Students saw the periodic table in class.

• • Objective: Students will learn lab safety rules.
    Outcome: Students recited 5 lab safety rules correctly.

• • Objective: Students will understand genetics.
    Outcome: Students will watch a video about DNA.

• • Objective: Students will read about ecosystems.
    Outcome: Students will understand ecosystems.

Which of these are objectives?

• • Students will explain the process of digestion.

• • Students drew a labeled diagram of the digestive system.

• Students will apply the scientific method to an experiment.

• • Students achieved 90% on their digestion quiz.