Learning outcomes Learning outcomes in UCC in UCC International Symposium on Implementing Learning Outcomes UCC 10 – 11 Feb 2006 Dr Declan Kennedy, Department of Education, UCC Dr Declan Kennedy, Department of Education, UCC 1 1
What are Learning What are Learning 1. 1. Outcomes? Outcomes? How do I write How do I write 2. 2. Learning Outcomes? Learning Outcomes? How do I link How do I link 3. 3. Learning Outcomes Learning Outcomes to Teaching and to Teaching and Assessment? Assessment? What are the benefits What are the benefits 4. 4. and potential and potential problems of Learning problems of Learning Outcomes? Outcomes? 2 2
1. What are learning outcomes? 1. What are learning outcomes? Learning outcomes are statements of what is expected that Learning outcomes are statements of what is expected that a student will be able to DO as a result of a learning a student will be able to DO as a result of a learning activity….(Jenkins and Unwin Unwin). ). activity….(Jenkins and Learning outcomes are explicit statements of what we want Learning outcomes are explicit statements of what we want our students to know, understand or to be able to do as a our students to know, understand or to be able to do as a result of completing our courses. (Univ. New South Wales, result of completing our courses. (Univ. New South Wales, Australia) Australia) “Learning outcomes are statements that specify what “Learning outcomes are statements that specify what learners will know or be able to do as a result of a learning learners will know or be able to do as a result of a learning activity. Outcomes are usually expressed as knowledge, activity. Outcomes are usually expressed as knowledge, skills or attitudes”. (American Association of Law Libraries). skills or attitudes”. (American Association of Law Libraries). Learning outcomes are an explicit description of what a Learning outcomes are an explicit description of what a learner should know, understand and be able to do as a learner should know, understand and be able to do as a result of learning. (Learning and Teaching Institute, result of learning. (Learning and Teaching Institute, Sheffield Hallam University) Sheffield Hallam University) 3 3
Working Definition Working Definition Learning outcomes are statements of what a Learning outcomes are statements of what a student should know, understand or be able student should know, understand or be able to do at the end of a learning activity. to do at the end of a learning activity. The learning activity could be, for example, a lecture, a The learning activity could be, for example, a lecture, a module or an entire programme. module or an entire programme. Learning outcomes must not simply be a “wish list” of Learning outcomes must not simply be a “wish list” of what a student is capable of doing on completion of the what a student is capable of doing on completion of the learning activity. learning activity. Learning outcomes must be simply and clearly Learning outcomes must be simply and clearly described. described. Learning outcomes must be capable of being validly Learning outcomes must be capable of being validly assessed. assessed. 4 4
From the definitions we see: From the definitions we see: Emphasis on the learner. Emphasis on the learner. Emphasis on the learner’s ability to do something. Emphasis on the learner’s ability to do something. Focus on teaching – – aims aims Outcomes: Focus on what we want Focus on teaching Outcomes: Focus on what we want and objectives and use of the student to be able to do - - use of use of and objectives and use of the student to be able to do terms like know, know, terms like define, list, name, recall, terms like terms like define, list, name, recall, understand, be familiar with. analyse, calculate, design, etc. understand, be familiar with. analyse, calculate, design, etc. Aims: Give broad purpose or general intention of the module. Objectives: Information about what the teaching of the module hopes to achieve. 5 5
2. How do I write Learning 2. How do I write Learning Outcomes? Outcomes? 6 6
Benjamin Bloom Benjamin Bloom (1913 – – 1999) 1999) (1913 He looked on learning as a He looked on learning as a process – – we build upon our former we build upon our former process learning to develop more complex levels of learning to develop more complex levels of understanding understanding Carried out research in the development of Carried out research in the development of classification of levels of thinking behaviours in the classification of levels of thinking behaviours in the process of learning. PhD University of Chicago in process of learning. PhD University of Chicago in 1942. 1942. Worked on drawing up levels of these thinking Worked on drawing up levels of these thinking behaviours from the simple recall of facts at the lowest behaviours from the simple recall of facts at the lowest level up to evaluation at the highest level. level up to evaluation at the highest level. 7 7
Bloom’s Taxonomy of Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives Educational Objectives Bloom’s taxonomy (1956) is a very useful aid to Bloom’s taxonomy (1956) is a very useful aid to writing learning outcomes. writing learning outcomes. The taxonomy consists of a hierarchy of The taxonomy consists of a hierarchy of increasingly complex processes which we want increasingly complex processes which we want our students to acquire. our students to acquire. Provides the structure for writing learning Provides the structure for writing learning outcomes outcomes Bloom’s Taxonomy is frequently used by Bloom’s Taxonomy is frequently used by teachers in writing learning outcomes as it teachers in writing learning outcomes as it provides a ready made structure and list of provides a ready made structure and list of verbs. verbs. 8 8
Bloom (1956) proposed that knowing is composed of six successive levels arranged in a hierarchy. 6. Evaluation 5. Synthesis 4.Analysis 3. Application 2. Comprehension 1. Knowledge 9 9
This area is commonly called the cognitive (“knowing”) domain (involving thought processes). Bloom suggested certain verbs that characterise the ability to demonstrate these processes. These verbs are the key to writing learning outcomes. The list of verbs has been extended since his original publication. The “toolkit” for writing learning outcomes! The “toolkit” for writing learning outcomes! 10 10
1. Knowledge - - ability to recall or ability to recall or 1. Knowledge remember facts without necessarily remember facts without necessarily understanding them understanding them Use action verbs like: Use action verbs like: Arrange, collect, define, Arrange, collect, define, 6. Evaluation describe, duplicate, describe, duplicate, examine, find, identify, 5. Synthesis examine, find, identify, label, list, memorise, label, list, memorise, 4.Analysis name, order, outline, name, order, outline, 3. Application present, quote, recall, present, quote, recall, recognise, record, recognise, record, 2. Comprehension recount, relate, repeat, recount, relate, repeat, reproduce, show, state, reproduce, show, state, 1. Knowledge tabulate, tell. tabulate, tell. 11 11
Examples: Knowledge Examples: Knowledge Recall genetics terminology: homozygous, genetics terminology: homozygous, Recall heterozygous, phenotype, genotype, homologous heterozygous, phenotype, genotype, homologous chromosome pair, etc. chromosome pair, etc. Identify and consider ethical implications of and consider ethical implications of Identify scientific investigations. scientific investigations. Describe how and why laws change and the how and why laws change and the Describe consequences of such changes on society. consequences of such changes on society. List the criteria to be taken into account when the criteria to be taken into account when List caring for a patient with tuberculosis. caring for a patient with tuberculosis. Define what behaviours constitute unprofessional what behaviours constitute unprofessional Define practice in the solicitor – – client relationship. client relationship. practice in the solicitor Describe the processes used in engineering when the processes used in engineering when Describe preparing a design brief for a client. preparing a design brief for a client. 12 12
2. Comprehension - - ability to ability to 2. Comprehension understand and interpret learned understand and interpret learned information information Use action verbs like: Use action verbs like: Associate, clarify, Associate, clarify, classify, contrast, classify, contrast, 6. Evaluation describe, differentiate, describe, differentiate, 5. Synthesis discuss, distinguish, discuss, distinguish, estimate, explain, estimate, explain, 4.Analysis express, extend, identify, express, extend, identify, 3. Application illustrate, indicate, illustrate, indicate, 2. Comprehension interpret, locate, predict, interpret, locate, predict, recognise, report, restate, recognise, report, restate, 1. Knowledge review, select, translate. review, select, translate. 13 13
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