What is the difference between goals and objectives?

A goal is a general statement of what we want students to learn from the class. It identifies

• who the learners are and
• the overall behavior the learners are expected to acquire.

Because goals are stated in general terms, they are open to interpretation in different ways. We use the objectives to clarify and explain the goal.
An objective is much more specific than a goal. A well-stated objective leaves little doubt about exactly

• what will be done (observable behavior)
• how this will be measured (performance criteria)
• the conditions under which it will be accomplished (allowances, restrictions, and circumstances).

The 3 essential characteristics of a useful objective are the following:

1. It states specifically the result to be accomplished.
2. It is expressed in measurable terms.
3. It identifies the conditions under which the result will occur. A common condition is time. For example,

                        exactly when the result will happen

                              by what date it will be completely accomplished

                        how long it will take to do the task once the class

                        occurs .