Designing Learning (Developmental) Outcomes

Learning (developmental) outcomes are specific statements that describe the skills, abilities, knowledge, or values that students should be able to do or demonstrate as a result of the course or program (e.g., “the student identifies and summarizes the problem or question at issue”).

Learning outcomes should be defined by action terms that are:
• Measurable
• Observable
• Performed by the learner

Why?
Outcomes that are vague or do not refer to actions performed by the learner cannot be easily assessed. We cannot measure what occurs in a student’s mind (e.g, the student understands concept X”), but we can measure actions taken by a student (e.g., the student defines, explains, and provides examples of concept X).

Common problems with learning outcomes include:
      • Using vague terms, such as:
            o Appreciate
            o Become aware of
            o Become familiar with
            o Develop
            o Know
            o Learn
            o Understand
      • Describing actions taken by somebody other than the learner (e.g., “the program will help students to appreciate concept X” or “the course will provide students with the opportunity to learn about concept X”)

Sample Learning Outcomes

Unclear outcome: Students will understand Erikson’s developmental stages.
Clear outcome: Students will identify and summarize each of Erikson’s stages of development.

Unclear outcome: Students will be familiar with the major sociological perspectives and how they relate to their daily lives.
Clear outcome: Students will describe each of the major sociological perspectives and will illustrate how each perspective relates to events in their daily lives.

Unclear outcome: Students will develop the skills necessary for conducting research in the natural sciences.
Clear outcome: Students will design, conduct, and analyze a research project using appropriate scientific theory and methodology.

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Sample Action Terms

Cognitive Skills

KNOWLEDGE
arrange, define, describe, duplicate, identify, label, list, match, memorize, name, order, outline, recognize, recall, relate, repeat, reproduce, select, state

COMPREHENSION
classify, convert, defend, describe, distinguish, estimate, explain, express, extend, generalize, give example, identify, indicate, infer, locate, paraphrase, predict, recognize, report, review, rewrite, select, summarize, translate

APPLICATION
apply, change, choose, compute, demonstrate, discover, dramatize, employ, illustrate, interpret, manipulate, modify, operate, practice, predict, prepare, produce, relate, schedule, show, sketch, solve, use, write

ANALYSIS
analyze, appraise, break down, calculate, categorize, compare, contrast, criticize, diagram, differentiate, discriminate, distinguish, examine, experiment, identify, illustrate, infer, model, outline, point out, question, relate, select, separate, subdivide, test

SYNTHESIS
arrange, assemble, categorize, collect, combine, comply, compile, compose, construct, create, devise, design, develop, explain, formulate, generate, integrate, manage, modify, organize, plan, propose, repair, rearrange, reconstruct, relate, reorganize, revise, rewrite, set-up, summarize, synthesize, tell, write

EVALUATION
appraise, argue, assess, attach, choose, compare, conclude, contrast, criticize, defend, describe, discriminate, estimate, evaluate, explain, judge, justify, interpret, predict, rate, relate, select, summarize, support, value

Affective Skills

RECEIVING (willingness to attend)
ask, choose, describe, follow, give, hold, identify, locate, name, point to, select, reply, use

RESPONDING (active participation)
answer, assist, compile, comply, conform, discuss, greet, help, label, perform, practice, present, read, recite, report, select, tell, write

VALUING (worth or value a student attaches to a particular object)
complete, describe, differentiate, explain, follow, form, initiate, invite, join, justify, propose, read, report, select, share, study, work

ORGANIZATION (bringing together different values)
adhere, alter, arrange, combine, compare, complete, defend, explain, generalize, identify, integrate, modify, order, organize, prepare, relate, synthesize

CHARACTERIZATION BY A VALUE
act, discriminate, display, influence, listen, modify, perform, practice, propose, qualify, question, revise,
serve, solve, use, verify

Psychomotor Skills

PERCEPTION
Choose, describe, detect, differentiate, distinguish, identify, isolate, relate, select, separate

MECHANISM
Assemble, build, calibrate, construct, dismantle, display, dissect, fasten, fix, grind, heat, manipulate, measure, mend, mix, organize, sketch

COMPLEX OR OVERT RESPONSE
Assemble, build, calibrate, construct, dismantle, display, dissect, fasten, fix, grind, heat, manipulate, measure, mend, mix, organize, sketch

ADAPTATION
Adapt, alter, change, rearrange, reorganize, revise, vary

ORIGINATION
Arrange, combine, compose, construct, create, design, originate

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References

Gronlund, N. E. (1985). Measurement and Evaluation in Teaching (5th ed.). New York, NY: MacMillan         Publishing Company.

Kan, A. (Ed.). (n.d.). Teaching objectives, active verbs. Message posted to Tomorrow’s Professor Listserv,         archived at http://sll.stanford.edu/projects/tomprof/ newtomprof/postings/170.html

University of Southern California, Division of Student Affairs. (2006, January 31). Writing learning outcomes.         Retrieved June 1, 2006, from http://www.usc.edu/ student-affairs/assess/Images/
        Overview%20of%20Learning%20Outcomes.pdf

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