WRITING Educational Objectives, Learning Outcomes Mi-Suk Shim, Ph.D. Spring 2006 DIIA

SACS Criteria CS Institutional Effectiveness The institution identifies expected outcomes for its educational programs and its administrative and educational support services ; assesses whether it achieves these outcomes; and provides evidence of improvement based on analysis of those results

UT SCHEDULE Program Educational Objectives and Program Outcomes –Complete by end of Spring 2006 and document Assessment Plan –Complete by end of Spring 2006 semester and document Progress Toward Completion of One Assessment Cycle and Closing the Loop –Complete documentation by Spring Break 2007

Benefits of Learning outcomes Program improvement Evaluation of instruction Course design and revision Curriculum assessment and change Improved Communication Advising Tools Improving promotional materials Targets for assessment and accreditation

Where to start? Catalog descriptions Program review reports Mission, Vision statements Values, Goals, Purpose, Philosophy External agencies (e.g. SACS-COC, ABET)

Educational Objectives Statements that describe the expected accomplishments of graduates during the first few years after graduation

Learning Outcomes statements that describe what students are expected to know, think, and able to do by the time of graduation

Educational Objectives/ Learning Outcomes Think of the “ideal” students or graduates What students know? What students can do? What students care about (think)?

Educational Objectives Broad Long-term What do we expect our graduates to accomplish in broader society as a result of program’s education? 3~5 per program

Educational Objectives: Leadership Graduates of the program at the UT at Austin will …. exhibit leadership in the business field with strong communication and interpersonal skills

Educational Objectives: Life-long Learners Graduates of the program at the UT at Austin will …. be life-long learners and stay informed of the professional field.

Educational Objectives: Contributing Citizens Graduates of the program at the UT at Austin will …. be contributing members of the society by conducting themselves in a responsible and ethical manner.

Educational Objectives/ Learning Outcomes Think of the “ideal” students or graduates What students know? What students can do? What students care about (think)?

Learning Outcomes Specific Measurable Achievable 3~8 per program

Outcomes-based assessment Student Learning Outcomes Continuous process of institutional effectiveness System

Process Planning Assessing (implementation) Understanding (evaluation) Improving

Matrix

Learning Outcomes: Guideline Aligned with mission statements Program level Stated from student perspective Intended learning outcomes (will) Specific Can be measured by multiple methods

Learning Outcomes Students will DO WHAT (how)

“DO WHAT (How)” --- Bloom’s Taxonomy TypeLevel Cognitive6 Knowledge ~ Evaluation Affective5 Receiving ~ Characterization by value Psychomotor/Skill7 Perception ~ Origination

Educational Objectives/ Learning Outcomes Think of the “ideal” students or graduates What students know? What students can do? What students care about (think)?

Learning Outcomes: Communication Students communicate well Communication department will provide opportunities for students to develop students’ communication skills Students will communicate effectively Students’ communication skills will gradually improve over several courses Students will be able to communicate information effectively in writing, orally, and graphically

Learning Outcomes: Research Skill Students will design and carry out research Psychology lab should teach students high quality research skill Students have demonstrated high quality research skills Students will independently design and carry out experimental research and evaluate the results critically

Learning Outcomes: Ethics Biology department will teach ethical responsibility to students. Students will be highly ethical Students took a course on ethics Students will understand their ethical responsibility for the field of Bio-medical research

Learning Outcomes: Dance Students will dance beautifully Students will finish 2 formal performances before graduation Students will display their dancing performance with well-coordinated artistic and technical skills

LO Exercise Students will be able to communicate information effectively in writing, orally, and graphically.

Think about….. Can you think of a course in your program that heavily requires communication skill? How do you usually assess it? What kind of assignments or tasks students have? –Essay, Presentation, Discussion, Report…………? What do you look for in assessment? –organization, clarity, analysis, evaluation, grammar…..?

TO DO List: For your program Discuss about and come up with Educational Objectives Write down the list of Educational Objectives that your program agreed on as finals Discuss about and come up with Learning Outcomes Write down the list of Learning Outcomes that your program agreed on as finals For each LO, use worksheets to create performance criteria Write the selected performance criteria on the Matrix “performance criteria” column

Further assistance Dr. Neal Armstrong Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs Office: MAI Phone: (512) ; (512)