Which of the following is not the purpose of an objective?

• A. Guides the learner; helps him/her focus and set priorities
• B. Guides the teacher; helps with the preparation of assessment tools to measure student achievement
• C. Statements about what students will gain from instruction
• D. Allows for analysis in terms of the levels of teaching and learning

Answer: (C)

Objectives are statements that specify what the learner will be able to do after instruction. They should describe observable, measurable performance, which helps the learner focus and set priorities for study. For the teacher, objectives inform what to teach and how to design assessments that measure achievement. They also support analyzing learning by aligning with different levels of teaching and learning, such as cognitive or skill-based tasks. A statement about what students will gain from instruction describes benefits rather than a specific, observable action, so it does not function as an objective. By focusing on observable performance, objectives provide a clear target for both instruction and evaluation, whereas general gains are not testable in the same way.