2.2 Learning outcomes
Learning outcomes are what you wish your students to be able to demonstrate by the completion of the unit.
- Learning outcomes include the knowledge, skills and attributes students are expected to demonstrate through successful completion of the unit.
- Unit learning outcomes describe an intellectually challenging, observable and measurable achievement.
- In general 4-6 learning outcomes is recommended and unit learning outcomes need to focus on significant and enduring aspects of student learning (rather than simply easily measurable aspects).
A useful way of writing learning outcome statements is to commence with a statement that uses verbs to indicate how the students will demonstrate the outcome. Words such as understand, know, appreciate do not communicate what you want students to be able to demonstrate.
It is preferable to explain that by the end of the unit, students will to be able to, for example:
- Investigate...
- Apply theory to...
- Undertake...
- Create...
In general, students need to first be able to explain knowledge before they can apply, analyse, synthesise, evaluate and create knowledge. It can be useful to ask yourself:
What do you want your students to do?
- Recall, recognise, identify, indicate, name, outline
- Describe, define
- Apply, classify, demonstrate, develop, implement, use report
- Analyse, synthesise, calculate, compare, contrast, deconstruct, differentiate, distinguish
- Evaluate, argue, critique, judge
- Create, construct, design devise, generate, and integrate
For further help in writing learning outcomes please see the University of Queensland's guide on Bloom's Taxonomy.