What Are Learning Outcomes and Why Are They Important?

As a practice, before undertaking any task, it is natural for most people to keep in mind what they hope to achieve with it, whether it is learning a new skill or finishing pending projects. For education, this detail lies in learning outcomes. Learning outcomes help measure the success of the teaching-learning activity or if one turns it around, having pre-defined learning outcomes helps educators design the curriculum and lesson plans that work towards achieving those outcomes. But first, what are Learning Outcomes?

What are Learning Outcomes?

Learning outcomes are target statements describing the actions, skills, abilities or knowledge students will be able to demonstrate at the end of the learning activity, be it their course, project, program or period. These statements are crafted to be student-centric, measurable, achievable and concise.

Importance of Learning Outcomes

These active statements are useful not just for educational institutes and teachers but also serve the students.

• Benefits for Students

  • Goal Definition: Knowing clearly what is the desired outcome of the learning activity helps students understand the goal of the lesson
  • Setting Expectations: Learning outcomes also inform the students what is expected out of them from a specific learning experience
  • Assessment Understanding: Understanding the main aim of the learning exercise also lets students know what they would be assessed on.
  • Self Assessment: Having a long view of what they are learning and why helps students assess their own progress and their learning needs. It also helps them set appropriate study plans and strategies.
  • Partnership: Having a clearly communicated outcome helps build collective ownership of the teaching-learning experience between teachers and students, encouraging students to actively participate in their learning experience.

• Benefits for Teachers

  • Curriculum Design / Lesson Plan: Having defined learning outcomes for a course or program level helps educators design the curriculum that aids the desired learning
  • Teaching Strategy: Teaching strategy answers the How aspect of learning outcomes. Understanding the desired learning outcome and the curriculum helps teachers decide on the most effective teaching strategy.
  • Assessment Strategy: Having a clear view of the skill, knowledge or attitude the students should gain at the end of the learning module informs the educators’ choice of assessment technique.
  • Evaluation of Success: Armed with the desired outcome and the plan to achieve it, it becomes easier for educators to measure success and the need for interventions if required.
  • Student Engagement: Sharing the purpose and the desired learning outcomes from the lesson enhances student involvement and engagement in their own learning experience. This shared ownership builds stronger teacher-student bonds

What are the Differences Between Learning Objectives and Learning Outcomes?

Though generally seeming similar and sometimes used interchangeably learning outcomes, learning objectives and learning goals stand for different things in teaching terminology.

1. 1. Learning Goals: Learning goals are general statements of what the educational institute or teachers hope to achieve via the learning activity. They are broad, top-level declarations from the educator’s point of view.
   2. Learning Objectives: Learning objectives fall between learning goals and outcomes. They are slightly more specific and operational than learning goals but still view the learning activity from the educator’s point of view. Learning objectives are general enough and not usually measurable due to their focus on the teaching aspect of the teaching-learning activity.
   3. Learning Outcomes: Learning Outcomes are highly focused and succinct, highlighting specific desired end results of the learning activity. Because these statements are result-oriented they are easily measurable. With their focus on the result, these statements are always student-centric.

Key Characteristics of Effective Learning Outcomes

• Specific: Precise and clearly defined, Learning Outcomes must state the single-minded and desired outcome of the learning experience.
• Measurable: These statements should clearly communicate the benchmark or standard with which the results can be compared to judge their success.
• Agreed Upon: The learning outcome must be in aligned with the learning goals and objectives, curriculum and lesson design, and agreed upon by all key stakeholders (Board, institute, faculty etc.)
• Realistic: The learning outcome must be achievable and in line with student development needs, being neither too ambitious nor effortless for the students at their stage of learning.
• Time-Frame: A learning outcome must have a defined timeline and end date by which it must be completed. Again a balanced allowance on time is advised, with the timeline being neither unreasonable nor lax.

How to Write Effective Learning Outcomes?

An effective Learning Outcome has some key components.

• It is usually action-oriented and very specific in nature.
• It must include the timeframe for completion of the action.
• It must have a benchmark to measure the action against.
• It includes the audience who will demonstrate the learned behaviour or skill.

Some experts also refer to it as an ABCD approach. The Audience here refers to the students, Behaviour indicates the action they must perform, Condition refers to the conditions under which the action must be performed and Degree refers to the extent or the measurable component of the action.

For example: At the end of week 3 (timeframe), students (audience) will be able to correctly perform (action/behaviour) simple mathematics calculation of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division (condition) up 3 digit numbers (degree/benchmark).

Another simple formula recommended for writing effective learning outcomes breaks it down as – as an outcome of (insert educational unit), students will be able to (insert measurable verb) (insert learning statement)

For example: On completing unit 4 (educational unit), students will be able to answer questions (measurable verb) with short, 3-4 word sentences (learning statement).

How does Extramarks Help with Learning Outcomes in the Classroom?

With its technology-enabled educational modules like Smart Class Plus, Extramarks provides teachers with an arsenal of engaging teaching material, digital lessons and tools helping them tailor their instruction design to suit the desired learning outcomes. Separately, Extramarks Assessment Center offers effective & personalised assessment solutions for all kinds of evaluation needs that help in tracking measurable learning outcomes.

Last Updated on November 5, 2024