Preparing Instructional Objectives: A Critical Tool in the Development of Effective Instruction

by Robert F. Mager

Before you prepare instruction, it's important to be able to clearly state what the desired outcomes of that instruction should be. In Preparing Instructional Objectives, you'll learn the characteristics of well-stated objectives, how to derive suitable objectives, and how to write objectives to match the instructional results you are seeking to achieve.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, Teaching, Reference, Business, School

202 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1997

About the author

Mager is a heavyweight in the field of training and performance improvement, and popularized the concept of Criterion Referenced Instruction.

Mager achieved A.B. and M.A. degrees from Ohio University and finished his Ph.D. in Psychology at the State University of Iowa.

Reviews

[Sammy]

Robert Mager, it seems I've grown quite fond of you. What a fun way to structure a textbook that absolutely didn't take away from the content. This really is required reading for any instructional designer.

[Valeria]

For those of us familiar with behavior analysis and teaching, this book is a great source of practical advice while being an easy read.

It should be mandatory reading for anybody planning to teach in any capacity. It is humorous and provides a lot of actionable items to make training and teaching more effective.

[Nadia]

It is absolutely vital for anyone creating courses. I taught for 5 years, and I still learned so much from this book. Definitely could have designed some courses better if I read this book when I was first starting out.

[Michelle]

favorite page: page 6

[M]

The title is serious, yet the book has a very light, breezy and conversational tone. As others have mentioned, it has a choose your own adventure style - it is a quick read and a useful as a tool to have around as a reference.

[Laura]

Mager manages the near-impossible: He makes the job of writing instructional objectives clear and entertaining. To any teachers/professors who grumble about having to write objectives, Mager is the person you want to guide you.

[Mary Allietta]

Teachers and educators: I highly recommend reading this book. Why? It teaches you how to write objectives so that you know what the student needs to do and under what conditions. Finally, it helps clarify what criteria are.

[Cecilia]

(Read as part of my ID certificate program - physical copy)
This book is easily accessible and yet so informative! Great tool for future ID projects. Looking forward to reading the rest of the Mager set.

[Timothy Decker]

I will return to this for syllabi and general preparation for objectives.

[Shawn Upton]

Welp, wish I would have read this 4 years ago...

[Kate]

Old but still applicable

[Holly]

Had to read this for a class and LOVED it! I know seriously one of the best textbooks I've had to read.

[Vicki]

Set up in a programmed-learning pattern.

[Lauren]

This book helped me understand what a bunch of articles and a full e-learning failed to do. Will definitely refer back to it regularly!

[Elijah Beltz]

It was a fun read for what could have been a boring topic. The author tests what he taught with a Choose-you-own-adventure format throughout the book.

[Jordan Barbosa]

Good instructions about instructing… Not overwrought and very quick and informative for what it is

[Richard]

Quick, easy read, which I very much appreciate in educational books. The information is very helpful, and I think will make me a better teacher. Only repetitive in a helpful way. It even got a few chuckles out of me.

[Kimber]

Loved this book! I used it for my Master's degree. Great way to learn how to write instructional objectives in a very easy to read manner. There were some good laughs sprinkled throughout the book too. I would recommend this to a future educator!

[meosima]

It's 'choose your own adventure,' instructional objectives style. Woo. (??) It's not "Developing Technical Training" so ... I guess that's a good thing.

[Henrie]

Helpful resource - I read this for my Masters program in 2001. It serves as a good reminder of the basics of creating objectives that I revisit from time to time.

[Mark O'Sullivan]

Everyone studying in a master's degree level or certificate program must read Mager.