What is the difference between learning objectives and performance objectives?

What is the difference between learning objectives and performance objectives?

• A. Learning objectives describe observable job performance.
• B. Performance objectives describe knowledge.
• C. Learning objectives specify what the learner will know or be able to do; performance objectives describe observable job performance after training.
• D. Both are identical.

Answer: (C)

The main idea is that learning objectives focus on what the learner will know or be able to do as a result of the training, covering knowledge, skills, or attitudes to develop. Performance objectives, on the other hand, describe observable job performance after training, specifying how the learner's on-the-job actions will be demonstrated and measured under certain conditions. This distinction matters because you design learning objectives to build competencies, then frame performance objectives to show exactly how those competencies will look in real work and how success will be judged. The other options mix up these roles: learning objectives aren’t about observable job performance, performance objectives aren’t just about knowledge, and the two are not identical.

The main idea is that learning objectives focus on what the learner will know or be able to do as a result of the training, covering knowledge, skills, or attitudes to develop. Performance objectives, on the other hand, describe observable job performance after training, specifying how the learner's on-the-job actions will be demonstrated and measured under certain conditions. This distinction matters because you design learning objectives to build competencies, then frame performance objectives to show exactly how those competencies will look in real work and how success will be judged. The other options mix up these roles: learning objectives aren’t about observable job performance, performance objectives aren’t just about knowledge, and the two are not identical.