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Student Learning Outcomes & Alignment

QOLT FLC

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Student Learning Outcomes�A Definition

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES ARE STATEMENTS THAT SPECIFY WHAT STUDENTS WILL KNOW, BE ABLE TO DO OR BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE WHEN THEY HAVE COMPLETED OR PARTICIPATED IN A PROGRAM/ACTIVITY/

COURSE/PROJECT.

OUTCOMES ARE USUALLY EXPRESSED AS KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ATTITUDES OR VALUES.

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Student �Learning Outcomes�How to Write Them

  1. BUILD UPON EXISTING (BROADER) OBJECTIVES.
  2. IDENTIFY MEASURABLE (ACTION) VERBS.
  3. BREAK DOWN LARGER OR HIGHER-ORDER OBJECTIVES INTO SMALLER (MORE SPECIFIC) OBJECTIVES.
  4. ALIGN THE OBJECTIVES WITH INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL, ASSIGNMENTS AND/OR ACTIVITIES, ASSESSMENT.

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Student Learning Outcomes�Sample

BROAD SLOs

SPECIFIC SLOs

ALIGNED

ASSIGNMENTS

(ASSESSMENT)

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Measurable SLOs�Sample

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Student Learning Outcomes�Why Do We Need Them?

  1. Are we teaching our course objectives? What are our students actually learning?
  2. How can I measure the effectiveness of the learning process?
  3. What can we do to help our students learn? What types of changes can we make (to assignments, activities, materials) to increase actual student learning?

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Student Learning Outcomes�How to Use Them

  • Identify learning objectives
  • Determine methods of assessment
  • Determine assignments/activities used to achieve objectives
  • Gather evidence
  • “Close the loop” : Review and interpret results, recommend actions, make changes, measure effectiveness of changes

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Student Learning Outcomes�How to Use Them

  • What will the student’s work tell me about their level of competence on the targeted learning objectives?
  • How will my assessment of their work help guide students’ practice and improve the quality of their work?
  • How will the assessment outcomes for the class guide my teaching practice?

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Assessment�QOLT Goals

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Assessment�The Process