Developing Learning Outcomes
What are learning outcomes?
Expressed knowledge, skills, or attitudes attendees should have upon
completing the session.
How are learning outcomes different from learning objectives?
Learning objectives focus on the big picture topics whereas learning
outcomes focus on attendee’s skill development.
How will learning outcomes help me?
Articulating goals helps you to focus your session to maximize your session
and assess if the goals are met.
How do I create good learning outcomes?
Learning outcomes should be S.M.A.R.T (Specific, Measurable, Attainable,
Results Focused, and Time Focused). Focus on what you want to
accomplish, how you’re going to accomplish it, and how you will measure
your objective.
Learning Outcomes Examples:
An attendee of this program will be able to identify three retention
challenges faced by Latino males.
An attendee of this program will be able to articulate starting steps to
collaborating with a campus department.
An attendee of this program will be able to create three learning outcomes
for their program or event.
People who view my poster will be able to describe Slossberg’s theory of
transition.
Developing Learning Outcomes. (2015 November 30). Center for Teaching and
Learning. Retrieved from: http://ctl.byu.edu/developing-learning-outcomes
Aligning Assessment with Learning Outcomes
Before you start
• How do I want to implement my assessment?
o For example: If you are presenting a poster, you may want to
use informal verbal questions to evaluate if your research is
clear and well developed.
• What do I want attendees to know how to do when they leave this
session?
• What kinds of questions will reveal whether attendees achieved
learning objectives I identified?
Use Bloom’s Taxonomy to Create questions:
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Knowledge: Arrange, identify, memorize, recall, reproduce
Comprehension: Explain, convert, express, rewrite
Application: Use, apply, change, practice, show
Analysis: Analyze, change, employ
Synthesis: Create, categorize, design, prepare
Evaluation: Judge, assess, attach, defend
Assessment examples
• Are you able to identify the three steps to start a partnership with a
department at your university?
• Are you able to identify the three retention challenges for Latino
males?
Review assessment
• Is each question clear and unambiguous?
• Does each question test the desired level of knowledge, skill, or
attitude?
Developing Learning Outcomes. (2015 November 30). Center for Teaching and
Learning. Retrieved from: http://ctl.byu.edu/developing-learning-outcomes