An intermediate objective that is usually part of a series of objectives and that directs instructors on what they need to instruct and what the learners will learn is:

The intermediate objective being referred to in this context is the enabling objective. Enabling objectives provide specific guidance on what instructors should teach and what learners are expected to grasp within a broader instructional framework. These objectives break down the overall learning goals into manageable parts, ensuring both instructors and learners have a clear understanding of the necessary steps toward achieving the final goals.

Enabling objectives serve as a bridge between the broader terminal objectives, which articulate the overall outcomes of an instructional program, and the specific skills or knowledge that learners need to acquire. By focusing on the enabling objectives, instructors can create focused lesson plans and assessments that contribute to the overall success in reaching terminal objectives.

The distinction between enabling objectives and other types of objectives is crucial. Terminal objectives express the final outcome or ultimate goal of a course or training program, while enabling objectives are more detailed, outlining the smaller components that lead to achieving those terminal aims. Additionally, planned objectives describe the teaching strategy without necessarily focusing on learner outcomes, and learning objectives might encompass both enabling and terminal objectives but do not specifically denote the intermediate nature of the enabling ones.