Within the classroom, establishing learning goals and objectives before designing instruction and planning assessments can provide a clear focus for the instructor.  For my particular unit of instruction, I have developed five learning goals with accompanying objectives.  They are as follows.

LEARNING GOAL #1  The student will understand the relationship between decimal numbers and fractions as well as the relationship between decimal numbers and other decimal numbers.

Objective AGiven a specific digit in a decimal, the students will identify the place value of that digit and round to a specific place value with 75% accuracy.

Objective BGiven a number in decimal form, the students will convert the decimal to a fraction or mixed number with 75% accuracy.

Objective CGiven two decimals, the students will compare the two numbers using the inequality symbols with 75% accuracy.

LEARNING GOAL #2  The student will estimate outcomes of operations as well as perform operations using decimals.

Objective AGiven two decimal numbers, the students will estimate the sum, difference, product, and quotient of the numbers to the nearest tenth with 75% accuracy.

Objective BGiven two decimal numbers, the students will perform operations such as add, subtract, multiply, and divide involving decimal numbers without the use of a calculator with 75% accuracy.

LEARNING GOAL #3  The students will simplify expressions and solve equations which involve decimal numbers, without the use of a calculator, with 75% accuracy.

Objective AGiven an expression which includes decimal numbers, the students will simplify the expression to their simplest form with 75% accuracy.

Objective BGiven equations that include decimals, the students will isolate and solve for the given variable with 75% accuracy.

LEARNING GOAL #4The students will implement the definitions of ratios, rates, and proportions to solve application problems.

Objective AGiven a ratio or a rate, the students will rewrite the ratio or rate as a fraction with 75% accuracy.

Objective BGiven application problems involving rates or ratios, the students will implement their knowledge of proportions to solve for a given unknown with 75% accuracy.

LEARNING GOAL #5  The students will use percentages appropriately to solve application and conversion problems.

Objective AGiven a percentage, students will convert the percent to a decimal or a fraction with 75% accuracy.

Objective BGiven application problems and without the use of a calculator, the students will calculate percent increases and percent decreases with 75% accuracy.        

Objective CGiven application problems and without the use of a calculator, the students will solve for a given unknown using percentages as appropriate with 75% accuracy.

These learning goals and objectives are based on the following objectives provided by the Developmental Mathematics Department at Utah Valley University (Dev. Math, p. 2-3).

25. Identify the place values for decimal numbers.

26. Convert from decimals to fractions or mixed numbers.

27. Compare decimal numbers using the inequality symbols.

28. Round a decimal number to a specific place value.

29. Add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimal numbers.

30. Estimate the sum, difference, product, and quotient of decimal numbers.

31. Simplify expressions with decimal numbers.

32. Solve equations that include decimals.

38. Write a ratio or a rate as a fraction.

39. Use proportions to solve problems involving rates or ratios.

40. Convert from percents to decimals and fractions.

41. Calculate percent increases and percent decreases.

42. Solve word problems using percent.

            The learning goals and objectives provided here are precisely aligned with my unit of instruction which covers chapters 5 and 6 from Prealgebra by Robert H. Prior.  Chapter 5 covers the concept of decimals including performing operations with decimals and well as solving applications with decimals.   Chapter 6 covers ratios, proportions, and percentages as well as solving application problems using these concepts.  I have selected 75% as my criteria for my objectives.  The Developmental Mathematics Department at UVU requires 70% accuracy in order to move on to the next class in the department, however I would like to see my students perform at a slightly higher level.

Works Cited

Developmental Mathematics Department, Utah Valley University (2010).  Math 0950      Objectives.   www.uvu.edu. Retrieved from           http://www.uvu.edu/devmath/pdf/950%20Objectives.pdf

Prior, Robert H. (2010).  Prealgebra.  Boston, MA: Addison-Wesley.