Delivered by James Harrington

The aim of this session was to analyse the methods by which we should set learning objectives and success criteria to suitably challenge all students.

A learning objective (or learning intention) describes what it is that we want students to learn. These goals can be short-term or long-term, and therefore may be objectives for a single lesson or a series of lessons.

Learning objectives are most effective when removed from the context of the learning, thus enabling students to transfer and apply acquired knowledge and skills.

If learning objectives relate to the process of learning, then success criteria (or learning outcomes) relate to knowledge at the end points of learning. They should not merely refer to the completion of activities or the level of enjoyment. Their role is to help teachers and students to be able to measure how successful they have been in learning. Success criteria can be used as an aid to differentiation if they indicate how far students have been able to transfer learning into new contexts.

When constructing learning objectives and success criteria the first point of reference is the scheme of work: What is it that students need to know and what skills will they be using?

The wording of the objectives and success criteria should be based on Bloom’s revised taxonomy:

Taking these two things into account here is an example of the learning objectives and success criteria I used with my students:

I don’t always include questions within the success criteria, however than can give students a better idea of what it is they need to be able to do.

In some situations you may have to explain what the words you are using mean – do students understand what analyse means? It is easy to assume that they do know it as you use it regularly and that other members of staff do as well. Check with the students or change the wording to something they are more likely to understand, or better fits the topic you are teaching.

Here are some useful resources that can be used when deciding on the wording of the LO and success criteria: