What are the clear and specific learning goals that help keep both teachers and students focused?

Instructional objectives are the clear and specific learning goals that outline what both teachers and students should aim to achieve in a lesson or course. They serve as a roadmap, providing direction for instruction and guiding assessment. By defining expected outcomes, instructional objectives help to keep everyone focused on what is important for learning. They provide clarity in the teaching process, ensuring that instructional methods and assessment strategies are aligned with desired student outcomes. This alignment promotes an effective learning environment, enabling students to understand what is expected of them and allowing teachers to assess progress toward those goals systematically. This clarity is essential in facilitating targeted instruction and enhancing student learning.