Creating A Quality Learning Experience Begins with Clear Learning Objectives

Creating a quality learning experience starts with writing clear objectives. This applies to both in-person as well as online learning programs.

In my current role, as a learning experience architect, I design learning content related to digital marketing and digital transformation for Fortune 500 corporate clients.  The audience that these programs are targeted for include junior practitioner level all the way up to senior leaders who need to know how to manage their organizations in the age of digital transformation and digital disruption. 

Regardless of who the audience is or the subject matter, one thing is standard across the board:  creating a quality learning experience starts with writing clear objectives.  This applies to both in-person as well as online learning programs.

In my experience, writing objectives is iterative, involving continuous refinement as the content for your program progresses.

Here are 5 steps that I follow when writing learning objectives:

1.  Hold a brainstorming session with your client sponsor or stakeholder.  

   -Ask the stakeholder to give examples of specific challenges faced by the organization

   -Find out more about who the learning audience will be

   -Ask the stakeholder what behavior they want to see change - what is the desired learning outcome?

2. Review the notes you took during the brainstorming session, highlight key words and identity 2-3 key themes.

3. Write a first draft of the learning objective for the overall program.

4. Create the program overview and draft learning objectives for each section

5. Continuously refine the objectives as you create the program to ensure that each section’s content ties back to the learning objectives.