WRITING LEARNING OUTCOMES
Program Learning Outcomes or Program Outcomes (PO’s) describe the measurable knowledge, skills, abilities, or behaviors that faculty want students to be able to demonstrate by the time they graduate. Your PO’s should apply to your discipline and include competencies considered critical to your field.
Likewise, Course Learning Outcomes or (CLO’s) describes the measurable knowledge, skills and abilities that faculty would want student to demonstrate by the time to course concludes. CLO’s should be aligned with the overall objective, purpose and intent for the programs. Therefore, to successfully create CLO’s one must be aware of the PLO’s.
Outcomes answer the question: What will students be able to do or demonstrate as a result of their studies?
1. Every outcome should align with the departmental mission.
2. Every outcome should be measurable, written so that the student demonstrates, applies, or performs a visible activity, e.g., “Students will be able to…”.
3. Every outcome needs at least one method for linking to a specific curricular or extracurricular task such as a class project, an exam, a homework assignment, or a field activity. The method uses a metric, tool, or instrument (a rubric, a checklist, etc.) to measure student competence. Having three methods shows that key outcomes receive attention in multiple classes.
4. Each method requires a criterion. This identifies the target or minimum performance standard for each student assignment (e.g., 75% of students will achieve a ‘satisfactory’ rating on a rubric).
Selecting methods
Remember that one method does not fit all, so choose carefully based on specific needs
Capitalize on what you are already doing or collecting
Be pragmatic in terms of time and resources
Don’t try to measure everything or everybody—you can sample students and classes
Remember that quantity of data does not equate to quality
Instructional Objective / Outcomes(results) / Methods
(activities) / Measures
(data collection) / Criterion (standard of performance) /
Linkage to which
Program Outcome
An objective of this course is to… / As a result of this objective, students will be able to . . . / To meet this outcome, students will… / To evaluate this outcome, faculty will… / As a sign of success, the target will be…
enhance student communication skills / speak in an engaging, logical, and wellarticulated way / give an oral presentation on a relevant topic of their choice / grade the presentation using a 3point rubric that measures precision of language, comprehension of material; logic of arguments; use of eye contact; and effectiveness of answering questions / 80% of students will achieve at least an average of a 2 /
Program Outcome #1: Write clearly and concisely to convey to the reader the subject matter knowledge attained from mastering General Studies education courses.
REMEMBER!
· Align with the program outcomes
· Identify what students will be able to do or demonstrate
· Appear visible and measurable
· Link to specific assignment or task
· Describe an evaluation method
· Identify a performance standard