Writing Postgraduate Programme Outcomes Dr Jacqueline Potter & Dr Ciara O’Farrell

AGENDA  Review: Learning Outcomes  Activity 1: Analyzing programme outcomes  Activity 2: The invisible graduate  Activity 3: Sample programme outcomes  Open discussion: challenges and going forward

Learning Outcomes  Statements of what a student is expected to know, understand and/or be able to demonstrate after completion of a process of learning (ECTS Users/ Guide, 2005)  Measure output: competency-based

Sussex university Aims, Objectives, or Learning Outcomes? Aims: Aims: Broad goals Objectives:  Measurable intentions  Specific steps that take us towards those goals  Teacher-focused Learning Outcomes:  Measurable achievements  Result from a learning process  Stated as achievements of the student

Aim vs Learning outcome Aim  In this programme students will be introduced to the subject of the core ethical principles in social work Learning Outcome  By the end of the programme the learner will be able to critically apply the core ethical principles in social work in different case settings.

Programme outcomes Articulate:  Knowledge and understanding needed  Intellectual skills required to make use of knowledge and understanding  Specify practical skills (competencies. eg lab skills)  Generic/transferable skills (communication, problem solving etc)

Categories of Outcomes  Subject specific outcomes – relate to subject discipline and knowledge/skills particular to it  Generic/transferable skills/competencies – relate to any/all disciplines (teamwork, problem-solving etc)

“It is important to note that in Tuning competences are always linked with knowledge since it is understood that they cannot be developd without learning in some field of discipline.” (Tuning Project, p42.)

Sample programme outcome On successful completion of this programme, students will be able to: Plan, evaluate and develop community- specific strategies for addressing international child health

Map to:  TCD Institutional Level Descriptors  NQAI framework of qualifications  Subject benchmarks and/or professional body requirements (where necessary)

10-level framework

Taxonomies

programme outcomes professional body requirements College award descriptors, Local –Global Use of Outcomes NQAI national award descriptors Bologna process of the European Higher Education Area constructive alignment of module learning outcomes teaching strategies assessment evaluation

Covert vs Overt Outcomes  Know  Reflect  Think critically  Understand  Appreciate  Summarize  Share reflections  Interpret, analyze, evaluate, construct arguments  Apply  Discuss

Writing Programme/Module Outcomes On successful completion of this programme, students should/will be able to: On successful completion of this module/course, students should/will be able to:

Sample graduate attributes/competencies Sample Competency  Problem solving  Teamwork  Research skills  Writing/literacy skills  Interpersonal skills  Communication skills  Ethical behaviour Sample Grad. Attribute  “The ability to employ techniques of analysis and enquiry”  “The ability to employ originality and creativity in formulating and applying evidence-based arguments”