Learning outcomes, frequently interchanged with the term learning objectives, are measurable statements that describe what students should know, be able to do, and value by the end of an educational experience, course, program, etc. Learning outcomes communicate the major components of the educational experience to the students who can then focus their efforts on what is important. When written effectively, learning outcomes lay the foundation for assessment methods, teaching strategies, and content curation.
Last Reviewed:
February 26, 2025
First Published:
August 11, 2022
Why Use This Strategy?
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Research has shown that learning outcomes designed to focus on the higher order levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy directly relates to student “satisfaction, motivation, and engagement”
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“Students see learning outcomes as useful learning aids and they use them in various ways to support studies”
Teaching Tips
- Ask yourself the following question: When the students finish my course, program, rotation, etc. what should they be able to do, know, or value?
- Learning outcomes should be SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely).
- When writing learning outcomes, start with an action verb to describe the learner’s performance. Use verbs from Bloom’s Taxonomy to delineate the specific performance.
Resources
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