Three Teachers: Objective Discussions

When it comes to teaching, sharing objectives with students is a crucial step that can set the tone for the entire lesson. Objectives serve as a roadmap, helping learners understand what they are expected to achieve and why it matters. However, the timing and manner in which these objectives are presented can significantly impact student engagement and motivation. In this blog post, we’ll explore the concept of objective discussions, highlight key strategies for making them effective, and review examples from three teachers to illustrate best practices.

What Is an Objective Discussion?

An objective discussion is a moment in a lesson when the teacher shares the instructional goals with students. This process helps learners understand what they will learn, why it is important, and how they will be assessed. While traditionally presented at the beginning of a lesson, objective discussions can be held at any point, depending on the context and the needs of the learners.

For example:

• Beginning of the Lesson: Ideal for most situations as it provides clarity and direction.
• Later in the Lesson: Useful when students need to experience initial success before aligning their goals with those of the instructor.

Why Are Objective Discussions Important?

Objective discussions play a vital role in motivating students and fostering a sense of purpose in learning. Here’s why:

1. Clarity: Students know what is expected of them.
2. Motivation: When objectives are tied to meaningful outcomes, learners are more likely to engage.
3. Alignment: Helps students adopt the instructor’s goals as their own.
4. Assessment: Provides measurable targets for both students and teachers.

Key Components of an Effective Objective Discussion

To make objective discussions impactful, teachers should focus on four essential elements:

1. Clearly State Instructional Objectives: Define what students will learn and achieve by the end of the lesson.
2. Check for Understanding: Ensure students grasp the objectives by asking questions or eliciting responses.
3. Establish Specifics: Provide detailed information about tasks, assessments, or expectations.
4. Discuss Importance: Explain why these objectives matter and how they benefit learners.

Examples from Three Teachers: Lessons Learned

Let’s examine how three teachers approached objective discussions in their lessons about answering phone calls in English.

Teacher 1: Basic Approach

• Strengths: Clearly introduced objectives (learning greetings, requests, sharing information, closing statements) and tied them to improving phone communication skills.
• Weaknesses: Spent minimal time explaining why these skills are important or how they would be assessed.
• Takeaway: While functional, this approach lacked depth in motivating students or connecting objectives to measurable outcomes.

Teacher 2: Engaging and Detailed

• Strengths: Used questions to elicit student interest (e.g., “Would you like to talk to a celebrity on the phone?”) and clearly outlined assessment criteria (a speaking test with specific phrases).
• Weaknesses: None noted; this was an excellent example of an effective objective discussion.
• Takeaway: Engaging students emotionally while providing clear expectations fosters motivation and alignment.

Teacher 3: Informative but Incomplete

• Strengths: Explained four parts of a phone call (greeting, request for help, display of information, closing statement) with specific details.
• Weaknesses: Did not clearly state objectives or discuss their importance.
• Takeaway: While informative, this approach missed opportunities to connect objectives to student motivation and measurable outcomes.

Best Practices for Objective Discussions

From these examples, we can derive several best practices:

1. Start with questions or scenarios that spark curiosity and relevance for learners.
2. Clearly define objectives using language that resonates with your audience.
3. Provide specifics about tasks or assessments so students know what is expected.
4. Emphasize why learning these skills matters—tie them to real-world applications or personal growth.

Conclusion

Objective discussions are more than just a formality—they are a powerful tool for guiding students toward success. Whether you’re teaching English communication skills or any other subject, taking time to craft thoughtful and engaging objective discussions can make all the difference in your classroom. Remember: clarity, motivation, alignment, and assessment are your keys to success.

In your next lesson plan, try incorporating these principles into your objective discussion. You might be surprised at how much more engaged your students become when they know where they’re headed—and why it matters!

You’re a smart Banana! *sticks gold star on your forehead*