Peer Review

Objectives Builder

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Overview:: This comprehensive, easy to use, web objectives builder tool and tutorial was created by James Basore at Arizona State University to help teachers and administrators write higher-order course and program objectives. The tool is accompanied by a succinct but thorough overview of how to write objectives using the original Blooms Taxonomy.
Type of Material:: Tutorial and development tool
Recommended Uses:: This online tool can serve as resource or supplement for preservice teachers learning to write lesson objectives and PreK - university teachers writing objectives for curriculum development, grant proposals, and school reports.
Technical Requirements:: The website is accessible with any browser. A flash player plug-in will be required in order to view the videos.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: The goals of the Objectives Builder site are to describe the purpose of learning objectives, avoid common pitfalls of writing objectives, and use Bloom's Taxonomy as an aid to writing effective course and lesson objectives. The user will view a short video about how to write performance based objectives and then be led step-by-step through the process of creating good objectives through the use of the tool.
Target Student Population:: Preservice teachers, K-university teachers, administrators, trainers in professional development
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: Basic computer skills.

Rating:
Strengths:: The site has a clear design that is broken into four easy-to-follow steps that include the targeted level of Bloom's Taxonomy, an overview of that level, selected verbs that align with that level, and sample objectives that can be used as references for writing the desired objectives. Completed objectives can be printed or copied into a text editor for use.
Concerns:: The video tutorial and objective builder use the older version of Bloom's Taxonomy--synthesize instead of create. This could be confusing to users, especially preservice teachers who would find this builder very helpful.

Rating:
Strengths:: Because this tool and the tutorial are completely self-contained, it would be good for independent work, homework, or tutorial work for preservice teachers or in workshops where teachers need a quick review. Objectives Builders provides a way to clearly structure objectives. Users can see the process and examples as they construct their own lesson objectives.
Concerns:: None.

Rating:
Strengths:: The design of the Objectives Builder is clean and clear. The user cannot get lost. The steps are clearly numbered. The tutorial button is available in the upper right of the site at all times. The built-in simple text editor allows for immediate objective writing and editing. The site is free and available to all.
Concerns:: None.

Other Issues and Comments:: We are wondering if Arizona State University or the author, James Basore, has plans to update this tool to align with the current Bloom's Taxonomy.
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