Down with learning objectives

Ever since I started teaching I’ve always had a skeptical view of the very foundation of most college courses: learning objectives.

Until recently, I’d be happy to go off on learning objectives (LOs) without any very nuanced reason why. Now, finally, I think I’ve found a way to articulate my contradictory point of view.

To begin, I suppose I should make it clear that I’m not exactly against LOs. I mean, I support learning. Huge fan, in fact. And, yes, I think teaching and learning should be approached with some sort of particularity. I appreciate the need to be able to assess learning, and that such assessment is difficult (impossible?) to do well without clearly defined LOs. Duly noted.