What are Learning Outcomes?Learning outcomes are specific statements of what students will be able to do when they successfully complete a learning experience (whether it's a project, course or program). They are always written in a student-centered, measurable fashion that is concise, meaningful, and achievable. Show
Learning Outcomes at the University or Program LevelOutcomes are used on many scales, from developing curriculum for a program of study to creating lessons for a single class activity. At the highest level, learning outcomes can be established at the university level. You can review the learning outcomes for DePaul graduates at the institutional level or program level. Learning Outcomes at the Module, Unit, or Week LevelJust as learning outcomes can be designed at the program level or university-wide level, they can also operate at a more granular scale within an individual course. Typically instructors divide their courses into smaller units such as modules or weeks, and many instructors establish learning outcomes for these smaller units that map onto the larger course-level outcomes. As a general rule, as the level of analysis becomes smaller, from course to module to assignment, the learning outcomes tend to be more specific and easily quantifiable. How are Learning Outcomes Different from Learning Goals or Learning Objectives?These terms are often used interchangeably and they are all related to the teaching and learning that is expected to take place in the classroom. However, the difference between goals or objectives and outcomes lies in the emphasis on who will be performing the activities.Learning goals and objectives generally describe what an instructor, program, or institution aims to do, whereas, a learning outcome describes in observable and measurable terms what a student is able to do as a result of completing a learning experience (e.g., course, project, or unit). Learning GoalsLearning goals are broad statements written from an instructor's or institution's perspective that give the general content and direction of a learning experience. They generally describe what an instructor or program aims to do; i.e., “The curriculum will introduce students to the major research methods of the discipline.” Learning ObjectivesLearning objectives are statements of what you intend to teach or cover in a learning experience. They tend to be
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Learning objectives can introduce unintended complexity because sometimes they are written in terms of what you intend to teach (the first example above) and sometimes they are written in terms of what you expect students will learn (the latter example). In contrast, learning outcomes should always be written with a focus on the learner and how the learner will demonstrate achievement, which makes it easier to assess students' learning. Why Write Learning Outcomes?Identifying the desired results of a learning experience is the first step of backward design.Learning outcomes are used for this purpose. Learning outcomes are also valuable in these ways: Learning outcomes help instructors...
Learning outcomes help students…
Elements of Effective Learning OutcomesClearly written course-level and module-level outcomes are the foundation upon which effective courses are designed. Outcomes inform both the way students are evaluated in a course and the way a course will be organized. Effective learning outcomes are student-centered, measurable, concise, meaningful, achievable and outcome-based (rather than task-based). Outcomes are phrased from the perspective of the student and are written in language that can be easily understood by them. Outcomes are specific, observable, and can be assessed. They use a concrete action verb. Outcomes are written in short, succinct sentences. Outcomes emphasize higher-order thinking and are consistent with university, college, department, and program learning outcomes. The total number of outcomes is reasonable for this population of students and is achievable within the time available. Outcomes should specify the skills and knowledge students must demonstrate to prove mastery instead of focusing on the assignment format, such as a quiz or essay. Well-worded outcomes should remain flexible enough to accommodate a variety of formats for a corresponding assessment. Writing Learning OutcomesWhile designing a course, instructors are most likely to develop course-level outcomes, which is to say the level of analysis is the course as opposed to the program of study (at a higher level) or module/week (at a lower level)
If the educational unit is implied, based on the context in which the learning outcomes are shared, you might leave off the first portion of the learning outcome statement. Course Learning Outcome ExamplesExample course learning outcomes using this formula:
Module- or Unit-level Learning Outcome ExamplesExample module- or unit-level learning outcome using this formula:
Examples of Common Learning Outcome Problems and Solutions
The Center for Teaching and Learning is available to consult with departments and individual faculty members on developing learning outcomes. Concrete Action VerbsThe following list includes concrete action verbs that correspond with each level of Bloom's taxonomy for the cognitive domain. To ensure outcomes are measurable, you might find it helpful to start each one with a verb from this list. compose, construct, create, design, develop, integrate, invent, make, manage, modify, prepare, propose, synthesize assess, choose, convince, critique, decide, determine, defend, estimate, judge, justify, measure, predict, prioritize, prove, rate, recommend, select analyze, categorize, compare, contrast, deconstruct, differentiate, examine, infer, organize, select, test apply, carry out, choose, demonstrate, recreate, show, solve, use describe, distinguish, clarify, classify, compare, convert, contrast, estimate, explain, identify, locate, predict, relate, report, restate, translate, summarize define, describe, identify, label, list, match, name, order, recall, recognize What about Hard-to-Measure Outcomes?Some faculty find it stifling to only include measurable outcomes in their course-planning process. You might have learning goals in mind that are valuable but more difficult to measure in a quarter, such as
These are all excellent examples of worthwhile goals that you might integrate into many of your learning materials and activities. It's fine to include hard-to-measure goals like these alongside your course outcomes, but it's best to keep them under a separate heading—such as "Learning Goals"—than to include them with your measurable outcomes. This separation will clarify that these goals are an important part of your course, but won't necessarily be tied to student grading and evaluation in the same way that the student learning outcomes will be. Further Reading
ReferencesBloom, B. S., Engelhart, M. D., Furst, E. J., Hill, E. J., & Krathwohl, D. R. (Eds.). (1956). Taxonomy of educational objectives: The classification of educational goals. New York, NY: Longmans, Green and Co. Which of the following is a good example of the type of objective that would be included in the affective domain of the taxonomy of educational objectives?Which of the following is a good example of the type of objective that would be included in the affective domain of the taxonomy of educational objectives? Students will be able to express a willingness to identify with and support a particular point of view regarding conservation and the environment.
Which of the following is an example of direct instruction?For example, presenting a video or film to students could be considered a form of direct instruction (even though the teacher is not actively instructing students, the content and presentation of material was determined by the teacher).
What does research suggest is the effect of the use of computer technology on intrinsic motivation?What does research suggest is the effect of the use of computer technology on intrinsic motivation? It increases intrinsic motivation by making learning more interesting and meaningful. Which of the following best demonstrates the concept of measurement?
Which of the following is a common misinterpretation of Gardner's multiple intelligences theory?One common misconception about multiple intelligences is that it means the same thing as learning styles. Instead, multiple intelligences represents different intellectual abilities. Learning styles, according to Howard Gardner, are the ways in which an individual approaches a range of tasks.
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