Learning Outcomes: Construction

How do I write learning outcomes?

Learning can be defined as lasting change caused by experience. Learning cannot be observed directly but it can be inferred from behaviour.

“For learning to occur, there has to be some kind of change in the learner. No change, no learning. And significant learning requires that there be some kind of lasting change that is important in terms of the learner’s life.”

(Fink, 2013, p. 34)

Learning outcomes and objectives, written from a student perspective, communicate what the student needs to do in order to demonstrate that they met the learning expectations.

This resource will outline how to write learning outcomes and introduce you to domains of learning and taxonomies to help you write your learning outcomes.

Sources that can Inform Learning Goals, Outcomes, and Objectives

Instructors and course authors may face various situations when creating or revising a course, such as:

1. developing a new course or redeveloping a course from scratch;
2. teaching a course that another course author created or one that relies heavily on a textbook; or
3. developing or teaching a course that is part of a larger program.

The course author can draw on the following resources to determine the key topics, concepts, events, skills and experiences that they want as part of a new course, as discussed by Carriveau (2016):

• personal expertise in the discipline;
• expertise from colleagues and practitioners in the discipline, including publications;
• existing outcomes, objectives or goals related to the course theme;
• student and teacher textbooks;
• department and institutional goals;
• professional accreditation standards; and
• course descriptions and topics.

After the key topics, concepts, events, skills and experiences are determined, the following questions will help in writing the learning outcomes and objectives:

• What are the most important knowledge, skills, or attitudes (KSA) for this group of learners?
• What level of learning is needed for this group of learners? What level of cognitive skill is appropriate?
• What criteria need to be included? (Criteria may include using specific materials, level of accuracy or proficiency required, etc.)
• How will instructors and students determine if the student met the required expectation?

Before reviewing how to structure learning outcomes and objectives, let’s take a look at taxonomies and domains.

Taxonomies and Domains

Taxonomies in teaching and learning are systems used to classify learning outcomes and objectives into levels of complexity and specificity. Taxonomies aid in verb selection.

There are three major domains of learning: cognitive, psychomotor, and affective. It is not unusual for taxonomies focus on one domain. Below are definitions and illustrations of taxonomy wheels.

Often, when we hear the term ‘taxonomy’ we think of Bloom’s taxonomy, which focuses on the cognitive domain. Below is Anderson and Krathwohl’s 2001 version of the Cognitive Domain taxonomy, A Taxonomy for Learning, Teaching, and Assessing: A Revision of Bloom’s Taxonomy, which is a rework of Bloom’s original.

Cognitive Process	Level of Complexity	Typical Use	Sample Verbs
Remembering	Lowest	Recall facts	define, describe, duplicate, find, identify, list, locate, memorize, name, recall, recognize, repeat, reproduce, retrieve, state.
Understanding	Low	Explain concepts	classify, describe, discuss, explain, estimate, identify, locate, paraphrase, predict, recognize, report, select, summarize, translate .
Applying	Low – Medium	Use information in a new way	apply, carry out, choose, demonstrate, dramatize, employ, execute, illustrate, implement, interpret, operate, schedule, show, sketch, solve, use, write.
Analyzing	Medium – High	Differentiate between components	attribute, compare, contrast, criticize, deconstruct, differentiate, discriminate, distinguish, examine, experiment, find, integrate, organize, outline, question, test.
Evaluating	High	Produce judgement	appraise, argue, check, conclude, critique, defend, detect, evaluate, explain, experiment, hypothesize, judge, monitor, select, support, test, value.
Creating	Highest	Assemble elements into novel product	assemble, construct, create, design, develop, devise, formulate, invent, plan, produce, make, write.

Problematic Words

Why can’t we use words like “understand” when writing learning outcomes? The verb “understand” is vague and does not provide an observable and measurable standard of performance. Verbs such as classify, discuss, and summarize are more specific and indicate the means of measuring learning. They also provide information to students on how to approach and check their learning.

Other problematic words include: appreciate, believe, self-actualize, experience, hear, listen, comprehend, cover, enjoy, feel, perceive, see, recognize, conceptualize, explore, memorize, think, familiarize, know, learn, realize, study, be aware (of), become acquainted (with), delve into, gain an understanding (of), gain knowledge (of), grasp significance (of), have faith (in).

Other taxonomies

Take the time to investigate a few other taxonomies to find one which will work best for your needs, course or discipline.

1. Krathwohl, Bloom & Masia (1956, 1999) Affective domain
2. Harrow (1972) Psychomotor domain
3. Simpson (1972) Pscyhomotor domain
4. Dave (1975) Psychomotor domain
5. Nunnally (1967) Affective domain
6. Reigleuth (1999) Affective & Cognitive domains
7. Gagne (1972) Cognitive, Affective & Psychomotor domains

Writing Learning Outcomes

Starting with a topic or task and how students will demonstrate having learned it, you can then follow a set of steps to write the learning outcomes.

1. Start with one KSA.
2. Determine the level of learning related to the KSA.
3. Select a verb that matches the level of learning and communicates what you want students to do in order to demonstrate their learning.
4. Add the criteria (if necessary).
5. Put everything together to write the learning outcome(s).

For information on using learning goals, outcomes, and objectives for course design, see Learning Outcomes – Alignment.

Resources

• Cariveau, R. S. (Ed.). (2016). Developing Student Learning Outcomes. In Connecting the Dots. 2nd edition. Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing.
• Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching. (2011). A model of learning objectives. Iowa State University. Retrieved from www.celt.iastate.edu/teaching/effective-teaching-practices/revised-blooms-taxonomy/
• Gronlund, N. E., & Brookhart, S. M. (2009). Writing Instructional Objectives (8^th Edition). Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education Inc.
• Krathwohl, D. R. (2002). A revision of Bloom’s taxonomy, an overview. Theory into Practice (41) 4, 212-219.
• Krathwohl, D., & Andreson, L. (2002). Taxonomies of educational objectives. Retrieved from www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3403200606.html
• Teaching Support Services, U Guelph. (2011). Learning objectives: a basic guide. University of Guelph. Retrieved from www.otl.uoguelph.ca/system/files/Writing, Revising and Refining Course Learning Outcomes.pdf
• Teaching and Learning Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Retrieved from https://tll.mit.edu/
• Stellenbosch University. (2016). Appendix A: Taxonomies of Learning Domains. Retrieved from www.sun.ac.za/english/learning-teaching/ctl/Documents/Summary of all domains.pdf

Resource created by: Denise C. & Jane C.

Originally Published: June 8, 2018

Last Updated: July 16, 2024