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Writing Effective Student
Learning Outcomes
What is a
learning
outcome?
How do you use
learning outcomes?
Value of developing learning
outcomes
 Guides
teaching by identifying what the
students will be able to do at the end of
the lesson or unit.
 Guides
assessment by articulating the
evidence by which that learning will be
demonstrated.
Definitions and underlying concepts
• An outcome is the desired result of the learning
experience.
Definitions and underlying concepts
Outcomes are the achieved results of what
was learned. They are the evidence that
learning has taken place. Outcomes are the
abilities or products students have shown after
instruction. Outcomes are what teachers will
assess.
Definitions and underlying concepts
A student learning outcome is “a specific
statement that describes the knowledge,
skills/abilities, or attitudes that students are
expected to learn upon successful
completion of a course of study, such as a
course, seminar, or certification program.”
(Wood, 2008)
Contexts in which learning
outcomes are used
 CEFR
“Can do” statements.
 “Can scan texts for relevant information and
grasp main topic of text, reading almost as
quickly as a native speaker.”
What does a good student learning
outcome look like?
Not too broad
What does a good student learning
outcome look like?
Not too narrow
What does a good student
learning outcome look like?
Uses parallel language
What does a good student
learning outcome look like?
Doesn’t mix verb
tenses: choose
either future or
present and stick
with it:
Students can . .
.
or
Students will be
able to . . .
What does a good student
learning outcome look like?
Makes it clear: by when? End of course or
program vs. beginning placement
What does a good student learning
outcome look like?
Uses strong, clear, concrete verbs such
as those found in Bloom’s Taxonomy.
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define
describe
identify
explain
demonstrate
produce
use
compare
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give examples
infer
predict
summarize
paraphrase
support
organize
show
Knowledge
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define
describe
identify
list
outline
explain
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generalize
give examples
infer
predict
summarize
paraphrase
Comprehension and application
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demonstrate
prepare
produce
rate
show
solve
use
Synthesis
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categorize
compare
conclude
design
explain
organize
plan
revise
support
6 Steps for analyzing Student Learning
Outcomes
1.
Does it have an action word?
2.
Does it have a learning object?
3.
Does it have clear criteria?
4.
Is it measurable?
5.
Is it observable?
6.
Is it calibrated to the grade level?
Writing
SLO
Can write essays using a variety of
sentence structures, developing
an argument, giving reasons or
points of view, explaining the
advantages and disadvantages
of various options while
synthesizing information and
arguments from a number of
sources.
Analysis
3.
Action word?
What?
Criteria?
4.
Measurable?
5.
Observable?
6.
Calibrated?
1.
2.
Writing
SLO
Can write essays using a variety of
sentence structures, developing
an argument, giving reasons or
points of view, explaining the
advantages and disadvantages
of various options while
synthesizing information and
arguments from a number of
sources.
Analysis
3.
Action word?
What?
Criteria?
4.
Measurable?
5.
Observable?
6.
Calibrated?
1.
2.
Writing
SLO
Can write essays using a variety of
sentence structures, developing
an argument, giving reasons or
points of view, explaining the
advantages and disadvantages
of various options while
synthesizing information and
arguments from a number of
sources.
Analysis
3.
Action word?
What?
Criteria?
4.
Measurable?
5.
Observable?
6.
Calibrated?
1.
2.
Writing
SLO
Can write essays using a variety of
sentence structures, developing
an argument, giving reasons or
points of view, explaining the
advantages and disadvantages
of various options while
synthesizing information and
arguments from a number of
sources.
Analysis
3.
Action word?
What?
Criteria?
4.
Measurable?
5.
Observable?
6.
Calibrated?
1.
2.
Sample action words and
learning objects for writing
Write:
essays, paragraphs, stories, sentences
summaries …
Complete:
forms, charts, applications
Compose:
outlines, descriptions, lists
What does a good
student learning
outcome look like?
Make sure that the
outcome is measurable.
What does a good student
learning outcome look like?
Avoids this language:
Be familiar with . . .
Gain an understanding
of . . .
Learn about . . .
Demonstrate
knowledge of . . .
(Wood 2008)
Learner Outcomes
 Action
word: identifies the performance to
be demonstrated
 Learning
statement: learning
demonstrated in the performance
 Criterion:
standard of acceptable
performance
The process of developing
learning outcomes
 Main



stages of the process (Sweeney 2008)
Identify the desired results (Outcomes)
Determine acceptable evidence
(Assessment process)
Plan learning experiences and instruction
Questions
Photo Credits
Some photos from flickr used under a Creative Commons Attribution license
Darts target
Graduation photo
Broad river
Narrow passage
Butterfly collection
Andromeda galaxy
Railroad tracks
Up-down arrows
Avoidance barrier
Calendar
Angry child
Question mark
Thank you flowers
Erika
Allan Chatto
Robert Taylor
David Merrigan
Christian Guthier
NASA
Sean McGrath
Cameron Russell
Horia Varlan
Jennifer Jayanthi Kumar
Mindaugass Danys
The Italian Voice
Eduardo Deboni