Learning Objectives
Education Planning and Evaluation
ESSENTIAL AREA # 2
Education Planning and Evaluation
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Element 2.3 "The provider must communicate the purpose or objectives of the activity so the learner is informed before participating in the activity"
Learning objectives in CME are instructions or statements of what the learner is to achieve at the conclusion of the meeting. Objectives not only assist the program planner in evaluating the effectiveness of the CME program but they also provide prospective participants the opportunity to determine whether or not the program meets their needs and interests.
Learning objectives should be clear and concise and relate to the identified needs of the program. They should be short, specific bullet points. The person writing objectives should ask the question "What is in it for the audience?" Always have one or more objectives for each lecture. This helps to focus the speakers as well as participants. Objectives should always use concrete terms such as:
- to explain
- to define
- to illustrate
- to name
- to diagnose
- to organize
- to predict
- to solve
- to diagram
- to contrast
- to demonstrate
- to recognize
- to develop
Below is a list of sample learning objectives used in previous St. Vincent CME programs:
- To understand and appreciate the complexities of the business side of medicine.
- Review current conceptions of various areas of surgery.
- Identify ways to evaluate patients’ eating patterns.
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