Operational Definition
Behavioral Objective:
A statement that communicates a proposed change in behavior. It describes a level of performance and serves as a basis for education in an effort to improve communication and help evaluate progress.
Define Behavior: Operationalize!
- Behavior needs to be in concrete observational terms
- Identify behaviors we want to increase (desired behaviors)
Components of a Behavioral Objective:
- Learner
- Target Behavior
- Conditions of Intervention
- Criteria for Acceptable Performance
Action Verbs
to cover with a card
to mark to underline to repeat orally to write to shade in to fill in to name |
to draw
to lever press to point to to walk to count orally to put on to number to tell what |
to remove
to place to circle to read orally to state to label to cross out to say |
Operational Definitions of On-Task Behavior:
- Orientation toward the task at hand, compliance with all directions, and working with appropriate materials
- Looking at the materials or teacher as requested, writing numbers or words related to the assigned task, and complying with instruction
- Student (a) is in designed area of room; (b) is manually engaged with appropriate materials; (c) is reading/writing the question/entry; (d) refrains from making derogatory comments about task/other; (e) asks relevant question(s) to adult; (f) maintains focus on appropriate task and/or the journaling tools, and (g) may appear in thought by intermittently and quietly looking away from materials and not writing (engaged in self)
- When he or she was (a) actively listening to teacher instructions, defined as being oriented toward the teacher or task and responding verbally (ex. asking questions about the instructions) or nonverbally (ex. nodding); (b) following the teacher's instructions; (c) orienting appropriately toward the teacher or task; or (d) seeking help in the proper manner (ex. raising hand)
- Remain seated with buttocks in his chair with his feet on the floor, his hands ready to work on the desk, completing assigned task