Learning Goal Writing Guide

Write learning goals that people can see and check, in minutes, using a plain KA method: Do, With, To, and the Check.

Who it is for

• Trainers who need clear goals before they build a session.

• Instructional designers who want a fast, consistent way to write and review goals.

• Subject experts who have been asked to teach what they know.

• Managers and people who run small businesses and train their own staff.

• HR staff who review training requests and plans.

The problem it solves

"Understand the policy" and "learn the system" sound like goals, but no one can see understanding, so no one can plan practice for it or check whether training worked. This guide shows a simple pattern for turning any training topic into goals that describe what people will do on the job, with a standard and a check, so the training and the results are clear from the start.

What is inside

• What a learning goal is and why it matters (page 1; 1 page)

• Copyright and License (page 2; 1 page)

• The KA method: Do, With, To, and the Check (page 3; 1 page)

• Verb list and verbs to avoid (page 4; 1 page)

• Weak and strong examples (page 5; 1 page)

• Five checks and common mistakes (page 6; 1 page)

• Variations and sharing goals with learners (page 7; 1 page)

• Worksheet: learning goals (page 8; 1 page)

• Worksheet: filled-in example (page 9; 1 page)

• Editable Word version of everything above (13 pages)

How to use it

1. Read what a learning goal is and why it matters.

2. Learn the Do, With, To pattern and the Check on page 3.

3. Choose verbs from the verb list and avoid the ones you cannot see.

4. Compare your goals with the weak and strong examples and try the practice rewrites.

5. Run the five checks, then complete the worksheet for your next piece of training.

Formats and file types

• Printable PDF (9 pages), US Letter.

• Editable Word file (.docx, 13 pages) with the worksheet as editable tables.

Frequently asked questions