Definition
The instructional design step in which the instructor writes clear, measurable performance objectives that define exactly what the learner must be able to do, under what conditions, and to what standard, in order to be judged competent. These objectives become the benchmark against which both training progress and final performance are evaluated.
Plain English
Before teaching, the instructor decides exactly what the student must be able to do by the end, the conditions they must do it under, and how well they must do it. Those targets are then used to judge whether the student has actually learned the skill.
Context Anchor
Seen in lesson planning, training syllabi, and instructor discussions about how a lesson or training period will be judged.
Derivation
Criterion comes from the Greek 'kriterion,' meaning a standard for judging. Objective comes from Latin 'objectum,' meaning something placed before you as a goal. Together: a goal you aim at, with a fixed standard to judge whether you reached it.
Why Pilots Care
Clear criterion objectives prevent vague training, ensure consistent evaluation, and reduce the chance that a pilot will move forward without truly mastering critical skills.
Grounding Statement
A criterion objective turns a broad aim like “learn normal landings” into a clear target with a visible standard for success.
Intuition Check
Do not read “criterion objective” as just a general training goal. Here, “criterion” means the specific standard used to judge whether the objective has been met.
Example Sentence 1
Before writing the lesson plan, the instructor established criterion objectives stating that the student must perform a power-off stall recovery within 100 feet of the entry altitude.
Example Sentence 2
The CFI established criterion objectives for the emergency landing practice so both knew exactly when the maneuver would be considered complete.