Plain English Meaning
A clear statement of what a student should be able to do after training, written so that both the instructor and the student can tell whether they have actually done it.
Full Definition
A learning objective written in terms of observable, measurable student performance. It states what the learner must be able to do, the conditions under which they must do it, and the standard of performance that defines success.
Context Anchor
Seen in flight instructor lesson plans, ground training plans, and evaluations of student progress.
Derivation
Performance here means the act of doing something that can be seen and measured. Objective comes from Latin objectum, meaning a thing presented to the mind — a target. So a performance-based objective is a target defined by what the student does, not by what they know in their head.