HOW TO WRITE
LEARNING
OBJECTIVES
INSTRUCTIONS FOR DRAFTING MEASURABLE GOALS
LEARNING OBJECTIVES INCLUDE THREE PARTS
1
1
WHAT DO I HOPE TO LEARN?
2
HOW WILL I LEARN IT?
3
IN WHAT WAY IS IT MEASURED?
WHAT DO I HOPE TO LEARN?
QUESTION
What are four* things you will be able to do after you complete your internship that you do not already know how to do?
DIRECTIONS
Fill in the blanks, each objective should include an ACTION VERB** and a NOUN along with any clarifying information.
*NOTE: you may be required to write more than four learning objectives.
**Need help coming up with ACTION VERBS? Check out the table on the last page of this worksheet.
OBJECTIVE #1
Learn how to __________________________________ ________________________________________________________
(action verb)
(noun)
OBJECTIVE #2
Learn how to __________________________________ ________________________________________________________
(action verb)
(noun)
OBJECTIVE #3
Learn how to __________________________________ ________________________________________________________
(action verb)
(noun)
OBJECTIVE #4
Learn how to __________________________________ ________________________________________________________
(action verb)
EXAMPLES

Learn how to analyze statistical data in MS Excel

Learn how to inventory and catalog artifacts

Learn how to market events through social media to a target audience
(noun)
2
HOW WILL I LEARN IT?
QUESTION
What will you need to do in order to learn each of the things you outlined in PART 1?
DIRECTIONS
Fill in the blanks with details about how your internship is going to train you to be able to accomplish these tasks. This
could include observing professional staff, participating in trainings, conducting independent research, etc. Once again,
This will include an ACTION VERB and a NOUN.
OBJECTIVE #1
Learn how to __________________________________________________________________________________________
(copied from part 1)
by ________________________________________________
_________________________________________________ .
(action verb)
(noun)
OBJECTIVE #2
Learn how to __________________________________________________________________________________________
(copied from part 1)
by ________________________________________________
_________________________________________________ .
(action verb)
(noun)
OBJECTIVE #3
Learn how to __________________________________________________________________________________________
(copied from part 1)
by ________________________________________________
_________________________________________________ .
(action verb)
(noun)
OBJECTIVE #4
Learn how to __________________________________________________________________________________________
(copied from part 1)
by ________________________________________________
(action verb)
_________________________________________________ .
(noun)
EXAMPLES

Learn how to analyze statistical data in MS Excel by participating in an Excel training course.

Learn how to inventory and catalog artifacts by reviewing the office’s cataloging process and procedures and
practicing with professional staff.

Learn how to market events by researching best practices for targeting events to students through social media.
3
IN WHAT WAYS IS IT MEASURED
QUESTION
How will you be able to prove that you have learned the new skills you set out to learn in PART 1 and PART 2?
DIRECTIONS
Fill in the blanks with details about WHAT YOU WILL DO to demonstrate this knowledge. There is no formula here; this
could be a project you turn into your supervisor for review, a component of your academic project, a task that you
complete during your internship, etc.
OBJECTIVE #1
Learn how to __________________________________________ by _____________________________________________ .
(copied from part 1)
(copied from part 2)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________ .
(what you will do)
OBJECTIVE #2
Learn how to __________________________________________ by _____________________________________________ .
(copied from part 1)
(copied from part 2)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________ .
(what you will do)
OBJECTIVE #3
Learn how to __________________________________________ by _____________________________________________ .
(copied from part 1)
(copied from part 2)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________ .
(what you will do)
OBJECTIVE #4
Learn how to __________________________________________ by _____________________________________________ .
(copied from part 1)
(copied from part 2)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________ .
(what you will do)
EXAMPLES

Learn how to analyze statistical data in MS Excel by participating in an Excel training course. By the conclusion of the
training, I will be able to analyze data collected through customer satisfaction surveys and report my findings to my
supervisor.

Learn how to inventory and catalog artifacts by reviewing the office’s cataloging policies and procedures and
practicing with professional staff. By the end of the internship, I will be able to catalog artifacts on my own under the
supervision of the director.

Learn how to market events by researching best practices for targeting events to students through social media.
I will use this knowledge to coordinate the social media marketing plan for our end of the semester lecture series.
May 2016
St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Career Development Center
ACTION VERBS
MANAGEMENT/
LEADERSHIP
SKILLS
administered
assigned
attained
chaired
consolidated
contracted
coordinated
delegated
developed
directed
eliminated
enhanced
enforced
established
evaluated
executed
generated
headed
hired
improved
incorporated
increased
inspected
instituted
managed
motivated
organized
oversaw
planned
presided
prioritized
produced
recommended
reorganized
reviewed
scheduled
strengthened
Supervised
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
addressed
advertised
arranged
collaborated
communicated
composed
condensed
contacted
convinced
corresponded
defined
directed
drafted
edited
elicited
explained
expressed
formulated
influenced
interpreted
interviewed
judged
lectured
marketed
mediated
moderated
negotiated
observed
participated
persuaded
presented
promoted
publicized
reconciled
recruited
referred
reported
resolved
responded
spoke
suggested
synthesized
translated
wrote
RESEARCH
SKILLS
analyzed
clarified
collected
compared
conducted
determined
examined
extracted
formulated
gathered
evaluated
identified
interpreted
interviewed
invented
investigated
located
measured
organized
researched
reviewed
solved
summarized
surveyed
systematized
tested
TECHNICAL
SKILLS
applied
assembled
built
calculated
conserved
constructed
designed
determined
developed
installed
maintained
operated
programmed
resolved
specialized
Upgraded
TEACHING
SKILLS
adapted
advised
arranged
clarified
communicated
conducted
coordinated
critiqued
developed
enabled
evaluated
explained
facilitated
guided
individualized
instructed
motivated
set goals
stimulated
taught
trained
transmitted
tutored
CREATIVE
SKILLS
acted
composed
conceptualized
created
designed
directed
displayed
drew
entertained
fashioned
formulated
founded
illustrated
introduced
invented
modeled
originated
performed
photographed
planned
revised
shaped
HELPING
SKILLS
advocated
aided
answered
assisted
cared for
clarified
counseled
diagnosed
educated
encouraged
facilitated
familiarized
furthered
helped
influenced
insured
mentored
provided
referred
rehabilitated
resolved
simplified
supplied
supported
volunteered
ORGANIZATIONAL
SKILLS
approved
arranged
catalogued
categorized
charted
classified
coded
collected
compiled
corresponded
distributed
filed
generated
implemented
inspected
maintained
monitored
operated
organized
prepared
processed
provided
recorded
reviewed
scheduled
sorted
submitted
standardized
systemized
updated
validated
verified
FINANCIAL
SKILLS
analyzed
appraised
audited
balanced
budgeted
calculated
computed
developed
estimated
forecasted
managed
marketed
planned
projected
reconciled
reduced
researched
MORE
VERBS
achieved
completed
contributed
effected
electrified
expanded
improved
navigated
negotiated
pioneered
perfected
promoted
quoted
reduced
resolved
sparked
spearheaded
spoke
succeeded
supervised
surpassed
transferred
unified