Outcomes-based Curricula: a general overview
Dr Ciara O’Farrell
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
Nature of Learning Outcomes

Issues and benefits

Aligning and mapping learning outcomes
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Writing programme and module outcomes
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
LO approach: Curriculum design on integration of knowledge, value, skills
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Forms critical part of Bologna educational reform
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Aim: To improve effectiveness/efficiency of higher
Education in Europe (local/international level)
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Programmes and Modules must be written in terms of
Learning Outcomes
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
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)
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Measure output: competency-based
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Learning Outcomes: issues and concerns
Conceptual/philosophical
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Prosaic/restrictive/prescriptive
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Academic versus vocational
Practical/technical
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Large undertaking; T&L;
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Threshold statements
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Writing challenges
Adam 2004
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Benefits for:

Learner

Programme/module designer
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QA: National/international educational transparency/comparability of standards

Employers
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
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)
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Aims, Objectives, or Learning
Outcomes?
Aims: Broad goals
Objectives:

Measurable intentions

Specific steps that take us towards those goals
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Teacher-focused
Learning Outcomes:
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Measurable achievements

Result from a learning process
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Stated as achievements of the student
Sussex university

Aim

In this module students will be introduced to the subject of the core ethical principles in social work
Learning Outcome

By the end of this module the learner will be able to critically apply the core ethical principles in social work in different case settings.
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TCD Institutional Level Descriptors
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NQAI framework of qualifications
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Subject benchmarks and/or professional body requirements (where necessary)
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Taxonomies
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
Know

Reflect
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Think critically
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Understand
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Appreciate
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Summarize
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Share reflections
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Interpret, analyze, evaluate, construct arguments
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Apply

Discuss
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
Return to LOs to design good assessment
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Assessments measure how successfully students have attained LOs
 “Present the findings of their experimental work through an oral presentation”
 “Critically evaluate research literature”
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Local –Global Use of Outcomes constructive alignment of learning outcomes teaching strategies assessment evaluation programme outcomes professional body requirements
College award descriptors
,
NQAI national award descriptors
Bologna process of the European
Higher Education
Area
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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:
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Articulate:

Knowledge and understanding needed

Intellectual skills required to make use of knowledge and understanding
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Specify practical skills (competencies. eg lab skills)
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Generic/transferable skills (communication, problem solving etc)
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
Subject specific outcomes – relate to subject discipline and knowledge/skills particular to it
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Generic/transferable skills/competencies – relate to any/all disciplines (teamwork, problem-solving etc)
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Sample Graduate attributes/competencies
Sample Competency

Problem solving
 Teamwork

Research skills
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Writing/literacy skills
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Interpersonal skills
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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”
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On successful completion of this programme, students will be able to:
 give an oral presentation in a team to a specialist audience, critically evaluating both the team’s performance and your own contribution to the team.
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Sample module learning outcome
On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
 identify effective online marketing strategies and incorporate them into a marketing plan
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Write your own programme/module learning outcome
1. Write your outcome beginning with:
“At the end of this programme/module, students will be able to….”
2. Share your outcome with a partner, using the following checklist to evaluate it:
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Does the outcome:
 assess what is important?
 clearly describe what the student is asked to do, using action verbs?
 ask the students to apply what they have learned by producing something?
 include a timeframe?
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Is it specific and measurable?
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