The best way to grasp the difference between objectives and activities is through an example. Here's a well written course objective for a course in Intermediate French:
Objective 1: As a result of this course I will be able to identify and correct grammatical errors in my conversations with fluent French speakers on everyday topics.
Notice how this objective implies but does not state that the student will have conversations in French during the course. It's in the activities section of the study contract that you list how you will meet a course objective. Always list at least one activity for each objective. Here are two activities that will allow the student to meet course Objective 1:
Activity 1: Attend a weekly French conversation group speaking only French for at least two hours per week.
Activity 2: List in my learning journal the kinds of errors I notice myself making in French conversation and include notes on how to correct them.
Unlike the course description, objectives and activities are written in the first person, as shown in our example. Use a 'frame' for your objectives to help you get the right syntax for good objectives. For objectives, which usually are presented as bulleted items in your final study contract, use the frame "As a result of this course I will be able to _____." The first verb that fills in the blank in the frame should be an action word such as examine, describe, diagnose, or write. By using this frame you will avoid vague objectives with stative verbs like be or see. You will also end up with objectives that allow your mentor or instructor to evaluate your progress toward your objectives during and at the end of your course.
When writing the activities that show how you will meet each objective, use the frame "During this course I will _______." As in the example above, the first verb you use a the end of the frame should name a specific action rather than state. Be sure to quantify your activities to convey careful planning. That is, if you are attending a workshop as part of your course, how long is it? If you will conduct interviews for the course, how many people will you interview? Note that your mentor can evaluate you at the end of the course on a kind of yes/no basis when your activities are written correctly. Did the student complete the workshop as planned, yes or no?
To conclude, there's a reason that faculty require you to sort out objectives from activities when you're designing your own course. It is possible to complete all the activities in a semester but still not meet your objectives. But it is not possible to meet your objectives without completing any activities. The better you understand the differences and connections between these parts of your study contracts, the more credible and useful your
contract will be. There are sample study contracts on the PC website and in the LRUP student handbook if seeing more sample objectives and activities statements will help you start writing your own.
Next week: Materials and Evaluation Sections of the Study Contract
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