DCD Lesson 3A: Objectives vs Outcomes

Understand the difference between Objectives vs Outcomes; and the impact for your learners.

Just Semantics?

Since the Education Myths blogs surfaced in 2016, I have regularly stated that education and learning are two completely different beasts. Since the 19th century, education has been organizational ‘push’ content. Since the beginning of time, learning has been curiosity ‘pull’ content. Quite often as I wrote, more than a few would respond that it was just a matter of semantics.

Objectives vs Outcomes is a microcosmic discussion about this issue. Many think they are quite similar and/or just a matter of semantics. Simply put, objectives stand at the start (of anything) and point in the direction where the person should go. These are easy for teachers and admin to check the box of completion. Outcomes on the other hand, stand at the end and provide detailed instructions to find a learner’s way to your position. These are much more difficult to check complete as the learner MUST achieve some form of competency.

Why Outcomes matter!

Anything short of detailed outcomes for a lesson/course/program is just lazy Learning Design. These are quite different in purpose, focus, voice, how they are measured, and what they are limited by.