UNPACKING PROGRAM LEARNING
OUTCOMES FOR DEEPER STUDENT
LEARNING AND SUCCESS
FAC ILITATO R
JOHN FREDERICK, PHD
O FFIC E O F A S S E S S M E N T A N D AC C R E D ITAT IO N ,
UNC-CHARLOTTE
ADAPTED FROM MIAMI DADE COLLEGE
1
WORKSHOP OUTCOMES
After completing this workshop, participants will be able to;
 deconstruct program learning outcome statements into specific learning
competencies
 identify learning activities that align and foster student attainment of the learning
outcomes
 build intentional connections between general education learning outcomes and
program learning outcomes
ADAPTED FROM MIAMI DADE COLLEGE
2
WHAT IS UNPACKING?
Unpacking is the process of deconstructing student learning outcomes into
component parts /competencies to identify key life-long transferable learning skills
and the types of learning experiences, activities, tasks, and assessments that align
with those outcomes.
ADAPTED FROM MIAMI DADE COLLEGE
3
WHY UNPACKING?
To de-clutter the mind – to get a clear idea of what are the the big ideas and essential
learning outcomes
To focus on student learning
ADAPTED FROM MIAMI DADE COLLEGE
4
ADAPTED FROM MIAMI DADE COLLEGE
5
DEFINING LEARNING OUTCOMES
Learning outcomes are statements that focus on habits of mind and specify what
learners will know or be able to do as a result of a learning activity
ADAPTED FROM MIAMI DADE COLLEGE
6
EFFECTIVE LEARNING OUTCOMES
Focus on the student, not the professor
Focus on the learning that results from the course or
program
Integrate the knowledge, skills, attitudes and habits of
mind essential to the program
Help students develop real-world, lifelong competency
-Huba and Freed, Learner-centered Assessment, 2000
ADAPTED FROM MIAMI DADE COLLEGE
7
LEARNING OUTCOMES SIMPLIFIED
SUBJECT: The Student will…
VERB: See Webb’s Depth of Knowledge or Bloom’s Taxonomy for verbs, e.g.,
demonstrate, create, and so on.
OBJECT: Something (skill, content knowledge, see course outcomes for ideas)
ADAPTED FROM MIAMI DADE COLLEGE
8
WHAT DO YOU WANT THE STUDENT
TO BE ABLE TO DO?
Answers to this question are learning
outcome statements.
From Intro. to Public Speaking course:
The student will demonstrate extemporaneous deliver y techniques for public address.
ADAPTED FROM MIAMI DADE COLLEGE
9
WEBB’S DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE
ADAPTED FROM MIAMI DADE COLLEGE
10
REVISED BLOOM’S TAXONOMY
ADAPTED FROM MIAMI DADE COLLEGE
11
ADAPTED FROM MIAMI DADE COLLEGE
12
STEP ONE- DECONSTRUCTING THE OUTCOME
Read the following program outcome statement(s)
Is the outcome contextualized or situated in a particular discipline?
Interpret the outcome statement- What does the outcome say a student will learn?
Break the outcome into parts
 Subject + Verb(s) + Object
Sample Outcome: Students will be able to communicate effectively using listening,
speaking, reading, and writing skills.
ADAPTED FROM MIAMI DADE COLLEGE
13
ADAPTED FROM MIAMI DADE COLLEGE
14
STEP TWO – IDENTIFYING THE COMPONENT PARTS
Identify and list the learning component parts/competencies
Answer the following for each component
 What do students need to know?
 What skills do students need to master?
 What do students need to produce?
ADAPTED FROM MIAMI DADE COLLEGE
15
EXAMPLE- IDENTIFYING LEARNING COMPONENTS
LO#1: Communicate effectively using listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.
Component
#1
•Listening
Component
#2
•Speaking
Component#3
•Reading
Component
#4
•Writing
-McGuirk 2013
ADAPTED FROM MIAMI DADE COLLEGE
16
REFLECT ON LEARNING COMPONENTS
Identify:
 Knowledge
 Skills
 Product
Component #1 :Communicate using listening skills
What knowledge
will students need
to demonstrate the
intended learning?
What skills are
required?
What product must they
create, if any?
McGuirk 2013
ADAPTED FROM MIAMI DADE COLLEGE
17
ADAPTED FROM MIAMI DADE COLLEGE
18
STEP THREE- INTENTIONALLY ALIGNING AND
CONNECTING PROGRAM OUTCOMES AND GENERAL
EDUCATION OUTCOMES
What are the ways of knowing in your program?
Which programs learning outcomes are aligned with the general education outcomes?
Which courses or activities or assignments in your program reinforce the outcome?
ADAPTED FROM MIAMI DADE COLLEGE
19
ALIGNING GENERAL EDUCATION OUTCOMES AND
COURSE COMPETENCIES
Which components of program learning outcomes are aligned with general education learning
outcomes?
LO #1- Communicate effectively using
listening, speaking, reading, and writing
skills
• Component #1: Communicate using speaking
• Course: COMM 1020 (Introduction to Public Speaking)
• Course Competency: Student will demonstrate effective
delivery of an informative speech
-David McGuirk 2013
ADAPTED FROM MIAMI DADE COLLEGE
20
ADAPTED FROM MIAMI DADE COLLEGE
21
REFERENCES
Association of American Colleges & Universities . (2014, November 3). Liberal
Education and America’s Promise . Retrieved from Association of American
Colleges & Universities: A Voice And A Force For Liberal Education In The 21st
Century: http://www.aacu.org/leap
CCSSE. (2014, November 3). About CCSSE. Retrieved from Community College Survey
of Student Engagement: http://www.ccsse.org/aboutccsse/aboutccsse.cfm
McGurik, D. (2014). “Unpacking Learning in General Education” Miami Dade College
National Survey of Student Engagement. (2014, November 3). About NSSE. Retrieved
from NSSE: http://nsse.iub.edu/html/about.cfm
Wiggins, G & McTighe, J. (2005). Understanding by Design. (2nd ed.). ASCD:
Alexandia, VA.
ADAPTED FROM MIAMI DADE COLLEGE
22
ADAPTED FROM MIAMI DADE COLLEGE
23