What are performance objectives?

Performance objectives are essential components of effective instruction as they provide clear statements about expected skill outcomes. These statements outline what learners should be able to achieve by the end of a learning experience or training session. The specificity of performance objectives helps both instructors and learners understand the desired competencies and benchmarks for success, ensuring that the educational goals are measurable and attainable.

They serve to focus the teaching efforts, aligning activities and assessments with the skills and knowledge that students are expected to demonstrate. In contrast, general guidelines for instruction, suggestions for classroom management, or vague ideas about teaching goals do not offer the clarity or specific focus needed for evaluating performance or guiding learners toward successful outcomes. The clarity and precision of performance objectives empower students by providing a roadmap of what is to be learned and how it will be assessed, fostering accountability for both students and instructors in the educational process.