Writing Great Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes of This Presentation At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to: Define student learning outcomes (SLOs) Differentiate among learning goals, objectives and outcomes Explain the pedagogical importance of having clear, measurable, learner-centered outcomes Write clear, measurable, learner-centered outcomes

Philosophical Shift Teacher-centered learner-centered Instructional objective student learning outcome Resulting in: Change in vocabulary and focus Change in instructional design process

Compare: Course objective To teach pre-service teachers the essential characteristics of effective teachers Learning outcome At the end of the course, students will be able to: Identify essential characteristics of effective teachers

Why Write Student Learning Outcomes? Important communication tool between faculty and students. Communicate expected competencies in terms of knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Provide a learning framework that: enhances instructional activities enables assessment of student learning facilitates consistency in course offerings It is advisable to share SLOs explicitly with your students

What is a Student Learning Outcome? A precise statement that answers the questions: How can learners demonstrate mastery of the knowledge, skills, or attitudes specified in the instruction? What will students be able to do at the completion of this course? CA

How Do You Write an SLO? Two essential parts: Action verb describing student learning required Following action verb, reference to course content (to be mastered)

Bloom’s Taxonomy Benjamin Bloom, e.a. – University of Chicago, in the 1950s A classification scheme that assists with thinking about learning outcomes Three domains: cognitive, affective and psychomotor

Bloom’s Cognitive Domains Six levels: Knowledge Comprehension Application Analysis Synthesis Evaluation

Course Goal If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be.  Now put a foundation under them. ~Thoreau Outcomes EVALUATION SYNTHESIS ANALYSIS appraise assess choose criticize conclude decide estimate evaluate judge justify measure rank rate APPLICATION assemble compose construct create design formulate integrate manage plan write prescribe propose COMPREHENSION analyze categorize compare contrast diagram differentiate discriminate examine discuss explain summarize paraphrase translate KNOWLEDGE apply calculate use demonstrate show solve describe define list identify name recall

Learning Outcomes of This Presentation At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to: Define student learning outcomes (SLOs) Differentiate between learning goals, objectives and outcomes Explain the pedagogical importance of having clear, measurable, learner-centered outcomes Write clear, measurable, learner-centered outcomes

Possible Pitfalls: Omission of higher level thinking levels Listing of activities Listing of objectives of instructor Use of vague terms like “know” and “understand” Confusion with learning goals

Goals versus SLOs Goal: A broad statement of the overall intent of the course SLOs should flow from the course goals Often imbedded in a course description Often not attainable through one course

Goals versus SLOs What might the course goal be in this case? Course objective To teach pre-service teachers the essential characteristics of effective teachers Learning outcome At the end of the course, students will be able to: Identify essential characteristics of effective teachers

Assessment: Closing the Loop SLOs provide a learning framework that: enhances instructional activities enables assessment of student learning facilitates consistency in course offerings How will you measure if outcomes are met? What types of classroom assessment techniques can be used that fit the cognitive domain level? How might you adjust the outcomes and/or the instruction based on assessment results?

Small Group Activity In pairs or triads, critique given student learning outcomes: Find the problem(s) Discuss outcomes

Small Group Activity Students will write an 8-10 page researched argument about a contemporary issue in health care Objective or Outcome? Objective – focuses on what students will do in class, not what they will be able to do when finished with course

Small Group Activity Students will be able to differentiate among different schools of philosophical thinking Objective or Outcome? Outcome – clearly states what students are able to do with the content information at the end of the course