A noteworthy next class: Making learning objectives work for you

Abstract

The creation of learning objectives is often considered imperative for semester-length courses, yet unimportant or irrelevant for information literacy instruction one-shot sessions. However, the Association of College and Research Libraries Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education calls librarians into action by instructing each library and campus to develop learning outcomes in line with the six frames that make sense for their individual communities. By reviewing the recognized taxonomies and selecting one that resonates with their teaching, librarians can follow the principles of backward design developed by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe to create learning objectives that work for their students and for them. The process of creating learning objectives for a one-shot session does not have to be daunting. By following the steps outlined in this article, librarians can create effective and measurable learning objectives that help direct class content and keep a student-centered focus.