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HiPlease tell me if this objective for an English lesson sounds sensible.To make the student read and understand the passage and finally answer the questions on it

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

(At the end of the lesson) the student will be able to read and understand the passage below and answer the accompanying questions on it.

.... the passage ...
.... the accompanying questions ...
__________

It's a little vague and ad hoc as an objective, but I suppose that can't always be avoided.

The objective should be the students' objective, not the teacher's. That's why "to make the student read" has got it backwards in my opinion. The objective of a lesson is not for the teacher to force students to do things (unless this is a demonstration of police techniques).

CJ

Vsuresh · Answer

Thank you very much,CJ.

CalifJimThe objective should be the students' objective, not the teacher's. That's why "to make the student read" has got it backwards in my opinion. The objective of a lesson is not for the teacher to force students to do things (unless this is a demonstration of police techniques).

I can't agree with you more. I will make necessary changes in my work.

Anonymous · Answer

We are not forcing the child to read . Instead as a teacher I am assigning the task to read...understand and then answer the questions. We are not forcing the learner to do the given task but yes I am letting the child do the work In the class.
Mr. Suresh I don't find anything wrong in it. Suppose child says that he or she doesn't want to do it at that period of time, then as a teacher I give freedom to the child to do it some other time but question arises here what is child going to do when other children are engaged so I feel class should be in control of the teacher.

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousWe are not forcing the child to read .

Then you should not use the phrasing "make the student read". "Making" is not far from forcing, and may even involve force. It's the wrong word. Try "have the student read" if you must describe objectives in terms of what the teacher will do during the lesson (teacher-centric classrooms). Most modern techniques use objectives that describe what the students will do (student-centric classrooms), or rather what behaviors they will acquire by being present and participating in the lesson.

AnonymousI give freedom to the child to do it some other time

In that case you are certainly not making the child do anything, so why would you favor the words "make the student read"?

AnonymousI feel class should be in control of the teacher.

Not a good idea in my opinion. Even in a student-centric environment, the teacher is in control. Who else has the ability and skills to decide what is to be learned and how it can be learned most effectively?

CJ

Vsuresh · Answer

Hi CJ
What is your opinion about using encourage in place of make?

CalifJim · Answer

vsureshWhat is your opinion about using encourage in place of make?

Good, but it's still teacher centered. It says what the teacher will do. The teacher will encourage ...

In fact, when you express an objective as what the teacher will do, and the objective is met, learning has not necessarily taken place. For example, you can encourage students all you want; that doesn't enable them to do what they must learn to do. At the end of the lesson the teacher can say, "I've met my objective today. I have encouraged my students. I can't understand, though, why they haven't learned anything!" That's not teaching; it's coaching. Of course, sometimes the teacher has to be a coach, that is, someone who stands by and guides the student in developing his natural talent. Most of the time, however, especially with classroom learning, the teacher should actually be teaching.

I'm a great fan of behavioral objectives for students. Within this method every objective starts with "At the end of this lesson (or group of lessons) the student will be able to" and continues with an observable behavior (will be able to list the names of the tenses, will be able to change active sentences to passive sentences, will be able to find all verbs within a given text, ...). "Understanding (a given text)" is not observable behavior, so it isn't allowed as an objective. "Appreciating the value of grammar" falls in the same category. If the teacher can't observe the results of his teaching, there is no way to know if learning has taken place.

CJ

Vsuresh · Answer

I have read your views. There is a lot of learning in it for me.

Thank you, CJ

Anonymous · Answer

I am bit confused....needs more clarity......

Regards

Dimple

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