Summary
What are learning outcomes?
Learning outcomes are statements that describe what a student is expected to learn from a single class, a course or an entire program. To be effective, the statements should describe observable and measurable actions that demonstrate the learning and can be assessed. You should always share your learning outcomes with your students.
Why learning outcomes matter
Learning outcomes are important because they:
- clarify the purpose of learning and the design of assessments;
- identify important course content;
- clarify instructor expectations for the level of knowledge to acquire; and
- situate a course within a program.
The formula for writing learning outcomes
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
Measurable verb (V)
+
Knowledge, skill or attitude (KSA)
+
Conditions (C)
(purpose, how, why,
under what circumstances, etc.)
Verbs to avoid: understand, recognize, know, appreciate…
Phrases to avoid: conscious of, awareness of, familiar with, interested in…
Levels of learning as per Bloom’s taxonomy
The depth or level of learning should be identified in your learning outcome statements.
The table below identifies verbs that articulate measurable ways to observe your learning outcomes. Note that this table is not a comprehensive list of verbs.
| Level of learning | What is expected | Verbs that describe observable & measurable learning |
| Remember | Students can recall basic facts, concepts or theories | describe, define, label, list, arrange, name, memorize, reproduce, quote, state, select, identify |
| Understand | Students can explain ideas or concepts. | discuss, explain, identify, describe, summarize, compare, locate, reiterate ideas and theories, illustrate |
| Apply | Students can use knowledge, theories or concepts in new situations. | apply, demonstrate, use, construct, solve, respond, complete, practice, conduct, perform, employ, dramatize |
| Analyze | Students can make connections between ideas, theories or concepts. | classify, review, exemplify, distinguish, categorize, test, experiment, quantify, critique, debate, differentiate, measure, relate, extrapolate, theorize |
| Evaluate | Students can judge or assess ideas, theories or concepts according to criteria. | assess, critique, choose, appraise, compare, conclude, review, defend, rate, measure, justify, judge |
| Create | Students can integrate knowledge, theories or concepts to create a new understanding. | develop, plan, design, formulate, establish, integrate, modify, compose, construct, devise, build, propose |
SMART principles for writing effective learning outcomes
Your learning outcome statements should reflect the SMART principles. That is, your learning outcomes should be:
- Specific: use clear and direct language that is easily understood by all.
- Measurable: use verbs that describe observable behaviours to demonstrate learning.
- Achievable: the outcome is something students can be reasonably expected to accomplish (not too difficult or too easy) given level, time, prior learning and other factors.
- Relevant: the learning outcomes have clear value to the student and the discipline learning.
- Timely: the outcome targets knowledge, skills and abilities that are acquired as needed and not for use in the distant future AND, it identifies when the student should be able to meet the learning outcome – at the end of a lesson, chapter, course, or program.
A statement that describes what a student is expected to learn from a single class, a course or an entire program.
