Objectives help teachers clarify what students should learn and evaluate if teaching was effective. There are four steps to creating objectives: 1) decide learning outcomes, 2) break outcomes into specific objectives, 3) determine assessments, 4) plan lessons. Objectives are specific, short-term goals for learning within a time frame. Standards are broader long-term goals. Objectives have four components: content outlining the subject, behavior stating what students will do, conditions providing context, and criteria establishing performance levels. Well-written objectives guide teaching and assessment.