The Two-Dimensional Chart
The Two-Dimensional Chart
What it is
- A grid with the content aspect down one side and the behavioral aspect across the top.
- Each cell is an objective: a behavior applied to a content.
Why it helps
- It makes objectives clear and concise.
- It guides the selection of learning experiences and the planning of teaching.
What a satisfactory objective does
- Clearly indicates the educational task and defines the desired results.
- Gives criteria for content selection, learning experiences, and teaching decisions.
Once a developer accepts that every objective has a behavioral aspect and a content aspect, a neat way to lay them out follows. A two-dimensional graphic chart puts content along one axis and behaviour along the other, so the whole set of objectives can be seen at a glance.
How the chart works
The chart has the content aspect listed down the side and the behavioral aspect listed across the top. Each cell where a content meets a behaviour is an objective: that behaviour applied to that content.
Take a unit on the animal world. The content aspect lists the groups of animals; the behavioral aspect lists what learners should be able to do.
| Content \ Behavior | Learn about the group | Group by similarity | Describe characteristics verbally | Write names of five animals | Draw one animal | Make a collage of the group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animals | ||||||
| Reptiles | ||||||
| Birds | ||||||
| Fish |
Reading across a row gives all the behaviours expected for one group of animals; reading down a column gives one behaviour applied across all the content. Each filled cell is a clear two-aspect objective, such as “draw one reptile” or “describe the characteristics of birds verbally.”
Content down one axis, behavior across the other
Each cell where a content meets a behavior is a complete two-aspect objective, such as “draw one reptile.” Rows show all behaviors for a content; columns show one behavior across all content.
What a satisfactory objective makes possible
The chart is useful because of what clearly stated objectives let a curriculum maker do. A satisfactory formulation of objectives clearly indicates the educational task and helps define the desired educational results. It turns a vague intention into a definite end.
And a clearly defined educational end is exactly what the rest of curriculum development needs. It gives the curriculum maker criteria for three things:
- The selection of content.
- The suggesting of learning experiences.
- The decisions about teaching procedure.
This is why stating objectives well matters so much, and why it closes the module on purposes. With clear, two-aspect objectives in hand, a developer can move to Tyler’s second question, selecting the learning experiences that will reach those objectives, which the next module takes up.
Criteria for selecting content, suggesting learning experiences, and deciding teaching
A satisfactory objective indicates the educational task and defines the desired results, turning a vague intention into a definite end that guides every later step of development.
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