Writing Learning Outcomes: Principles, Considerations, and Examples

Writing Learning Outcomes:

Principles, Considerations, and Examples

Jean-François Richard, Ph.D.

Associate Vice-President, Academic and Faculty Affairs
Université de Moncton

A resource document published by the

Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission

January 2016

www.mphec.ca www.cespm.ca
Writing Learning Outcomes: Principles, Considerations, and Examples

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Writing Learning Outcomes: Principles, Considerations, and Examples

Writing Learning Outcomes:

Principles, Considerations, and Examples

Table of Contents

1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 1
2. Learning outcomes as a guide for planning, teaching and assessment .................................................. 1
2.1 General learning outcomes .................................................................................................... 2
2.2 Specific learning outcomes .................................................................................................... 6
3. Writing learning outcomes: principles, considerations, and other examples ......................................... 6
3.1 Writing general learning outcomes....................................................................................... 6
3.2 Writing specific learning outcomes....................................................................................... 6
4. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................... 8

APPENDIX

A. Nomenclature for Program and Course Development and Planning……………………………………………9

Writing Learning Outcomes: Principles, Considerations, and Examples
Writing Learning Outcomes: Principles, Considerations, and Examples 1

1. Introduction
The task of planning for teaching and learning is of vital importance for determining the various elements
that will provide direction for a program and all the courses it comprises. In terms of course development,
the list of content topics determined by faculty can be used as an important planning tool; however, it
does not identify the knowledge, skills and competencies that the students will have to develop by the
end of their learning process in the context of a given course (Prégent, 1994). It is in writing the learning
outcomes that the professor can define these dimensions more accurately. Consequently, well-defined
learning outcomes clarify not only the goals to be reached in a course, but also help clarify the educational
directions to take for the delivery of the course as well as the framework for the assessment of learning.
To ensure the best possible quality in our curricula, the purpose of this document is to present a synthesis
of principles and considerations in the process of writing learning outcomes. A presentation on this topic
seems fitting since the Université de Moncton has just revised its policy on program assessment (May
2013) in order to ensure better compliance with the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission’s
revised policy (MPHEC, March 2013), which puts more emphasis on student learning outcomes for the
sake of transparency and accountability. The hope is that this document will help in our collective efforts
from classroom instruction to the development and revision of programs.

2. Learning outcomes as a guide for planning, teaching, and assessment

According to Legendre (2005) and Miller, Linn & Gronlund (2013), from an educational standpoint, learning
outcomes specify the type of performance that a student must achieve during or by the end of an
educational context (i.e. learning task, course, etc.) or a program of study. More specifically, a learning
outcome “expresses the lasting changes that must arise to the student during or following an educational
experience” [translation] (Legendre, 2005, p. 946). Given that learning is not directly observable, its
manifestations, which result from learning and show “lasting changes”, must be perceptible by means of
indicators showing a transformation or a change with respect to behaviours related to targeted learning
(e.g. the ability to solve a math problem following instruction).
Generally speaking, and by analogy, a learning outcome can been seen as a target to meet. The targets or
outcomes of a course are related to the learning that the faculty member sets for the students to achieve
as part of a given body of knowledge (Prégent, 1994).

In general, a lack of clearly defined learning outcomes can have a negative effect on the quality of
instruction, learning, and learning assessment. Such deficiencies in planning have a tremendous impact on
the consistency of teaching overall, and especially on learning assessment. We could therefore consider
that the presence of clearly defined learning outcomes offers a series of advantages, both for faculty and
students (Prégent, 1994):

1. Clearly state intentions through outcomes (general and specific);

2. Design and implement learning activities to achieve the established outcomes;
3. Evaluate only the outcomes through activities that have been conducted in the classroom.

The first advantage is that faculty are able to state the outcomes or directions of their course to students
in a clear, plain, and precise manner given that the course outcomes help them to specify the nature of
the topics addressed in a course as well as the nature of the expected learning (Prégent, 1994). This
advantage aligns with a basic edumetric principle, i.e. transparency in the teaching/learning/assessment
process (Bercier-Larivière and Forgette-Giroux, 1999).

The second advantage is that faculty must choose only the educational approaches and teaching strategies
that can help to achieve the targeted outcomes. In fact, it would be absurd, even illogical, to use
approaches that would not help to fully achieve the targeted outcomes (Prégent, 1994).
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The third and most important advantage is that faculty must establish a direct relationship between the
specific learning outcomes and learning assessment. Thus, once they have written out specific outcomes,
they have, in turn, set out the nature of the exam questions or the evaluation criteria for a given piece
of work (Prégent, 1994).

2.1 General learning outcomes

As was mentioned earlier, the aim of the learning outcome is to determine the lasting changes following
a course or program of instruction. Consequently, general outcomes are used to provide direction with
respect to what is to be learned in a program or in a specific course. These outcomes are expressed
abstractly and present a wide range of anticipated characteristics or lasting changes that may develop in
a group of students following an extended learning scenario (Legendre, 2005). These changes are often
expressed in terms of knowledge to acquire and skills and competencies to be developed. Moreover,
general learning outcomes determine the learning path on the basis of the three main domains of learning,
which are expressed through various taxonomies. These three main domains are cognitive, psychomotor,
and affective learning.

Even though all of these domains are part of teaching at the university level, most of the learning at this
level is likely to be cognitive in nature, regardless of the program of instruction. While we certainly do not
want to neglect the psychomotor and affective learning domains, this document is oriented more towards
the writing of cognitive learning outcomes. In this regard, the taxonomy that is best known and used
throughout the world is that developed by Benjamin Bloom (1956). This taxonomy presents the learning
objectives as a continuum starting with the most basic cognitive ability objectives (e.g. knowledge and
understanding) and moving on to the more complex cognitive abilities and skills (e.g. synthesis and
evaluation).

Tables 1 and 2 present a synthesis of Bloom’s Taxonomy, including examples of verbs that can be used in
writing out general and specific objectives or outcomes at the different cognitive levels and content that
is often exploited at these different levels of this taxonomy. Depending on the verb used, the statement
of the objective or outcome helps determine the expected complexity in terms of learning.

Table 1: Bloom’s Taxonomy

Knowledge Knowing how to accurately relate or reproduce any previously acquired information or
knowledge.
Comprehension Understanding the meaning, translation, interpolation, and interpretation of instructions and
problems.
Application Using previously acquired knowledge, skills and competencies in new situations in an effort
to solve problems in the best way possible or in a unique way.
Analysis Dividing up or breaking down an object or information into its parts, examining them (in an
attempt to understand them or to understand their functionality or structure) by identifying
causes and making inferences to support generalizations.
Synthesis Putting into practice a knowledge and skill set in order to form a coherent and original
whole.
Evaluation Making judgments on the value of something based on one’s knowledge, methods, and
values in order to make something new by following a specific goal and established
protocols.
Writing Learning Outcomes: Principles, Considerations, and Examples 3

Table 2: Bloom’s Taxonomy: Verbs and related content

Categories Verbs for general Verbs for specific learning objectives Content
learning objectives or outcomes
or outcomes (partial
list)
Knowledge Identify, recognize, Arrange, define, duplicate, know, Facts, places, information,
recall… label, list, match, memorize, name, objects, events,
order, quote, recognize, recall, repeat, characteristics, vocabulary
Comprehension Understand, grasp Characterize, classify, complete, Words, sentences, ideas,
the meaning, depict, describe, discuss, establish, definitions, meanings, new
translate, explain, express, identify, illustrate, examples, relationships,
extrapolate, locate, recognize, report, relate, aspects, consequences
interpret… review, sort, translate
Application Apply, make use of… Administer, apply, New situations, problems,
calculate, choose, compute, conduct, difficulties, situations
demonstrate, dramatize, employ,
implement, interpret, operate,
perform, practice, prescribe, sketch,
solve
Analysis Analyze, organize… Analyze, appraise, categorize, Causes, effects, principles,
compare, contrast, critique, diagram, connections, events,
differentiate, discriminate, distinguish, conducts, devices, parts,
detect, examine, experiment, explore, instruments, errors,
explain, inventory, investigate, fallacies, facts, hypotheses
question research, test and arguments
Synthesis Summarize, Combine, compose, consolidate, Undertakings, writings,
compose, create, construct, create, design, formulate, narrations, descriptions,
invent, design, hypothesize, integrate, colours, shapes, stories,
develop… merge, organize, plan, propose, theories, structures,
synthesize, systematize, theorize, models, discoveries
unite, write
Evaluation Evaluate, judge, Appraise, argue, assess, critique, Advantages,
compare… defend, distinguish, envision, estimate, disadvantages, decisions,
examine, grade, similarities, difficulties,
inspect, judge, justify, rank, rate, agreements,
review, value, validate disagreements, strengths,
weaknesses
To come back to the definition and characteristics of the general learning outcome, and by referring to
Bloom’s Taxonomy, the verbs commonly used reflect the targeted transformation without specifying the
perceptible and observable manifestations of this transformation. For example:
Example 1
Training in a nursing context -

• Students will be able to understand the theoretical foundations underpinning geriatric care.
(Level 2)

How is understanding determined? How do the students show this understanding?

Mathematics course context -

• Students will be able to apply various mathematical operations in a problem-solving context.

(Level 3)
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How is the nature of this application determined? What are the student behaviours that will help
determine if the application is in accordance with the desired outcomes based on the direction of the
outcome and the related content?

These questions can and should be answered through the specific learning outcome, which is explained
in greater detail in section 2.2.

However, before completing this section, certain nuances must be pointed out between program goals,
the general learning outcomes of a program, and the general learning outcomes of a course. According
to Legendre (2005), from an educational standpoint, the goal refers to a general statement of intent and
direction that explains one or more outcomes. The following are good examples of verbs that can be used
to state the goal of a program: develop, train, educate, become familiar with, become aware, initiate,
acquire, and broaden. These types of verbs present intentions that are unlimited, with as much scope as
you want to give them, depending on the nature and education level of the program in question. For
example, nobody can dispute the purpose of developing certain attitudes, knowledge, or skills as part of
a program. However, when it comes to a particular program, how far is this development taken? The
general learning outcomes of a program and the general learning outcomes and specific learning outcomes
of a course determine the extent of the development within the said program. The goals of a program
remain general because they cover a large area and should be aligned with the perceived actual and future
societal needs in contemporary society and in the future.

The general learning outcomes of a program and the general learning outcomes of a course set out all
of the expected outcomes upon completion of a learning process. In both cases, these outcomes are
general and as mentioned earlier, are often written in the form of knowledge and skills to be acquired or
abilities and competencies to be developed. The fact remains that the program outcome is designed to
specify the major learning outcomes to be achieved upon completion of the program of instruction. As
for the general learning outcomes relating to a course, the aim is to specify the learning outcomes upon
completing said course. To better illustrate the differences between these levels of planning, below are
some examples from various curricula:

Example 2
As part of a master’s program in education – school administration:

Program goal
The purpose of this program is to…
Introduce the students to research in the field of school administration (based on and modified from
the master’s degree course in Education – Université de Montréal).

General learning outcome of the program

By the end of this program…
Students will be able to analyze the data from various qualitative and quantitative analysis methods in
examining issues relating to the administrative leadership of schools.

General learning outcome of a course

By the end of this course…
Students will be able to analyze texts using a quantitative method (excerpt from the master’s degree
course in education entitled Méthodes quantitatives de recherche at the Université de Moncton).

As part of an undergraduate program in history…

Program goal
The purpose of this program is to…
Enable students to broaden their knowledge with respect to human evolution.
Writing Learning Outcomes: Principles, Considerations, and Examples 5

General learning outcome of the program

By the end of this program…
Students will be able to summarize knowledge of the past using an ethical, scientific approach (excerpt
from the bachelor of history program at Université Laval).

General learning outcome of a course

By the end of the course…
Students will be able to recognize the major stages and aspects of the historical evolution of Canada
from the arrival of the first humans to the present day (excerpt from the History of Canada course at
Université Laval).

As part of a training course on nutrition and dietetics…

Program goal
The purpose of this program is to…
Train health professionals specializing in nutrition to be able to guide individuals and groups in their
food choices and eating habits in order to prevent disease and promote the re-establishment and
maintenance of optimal health (excerpt from the bachelor of science program in nutrition at the
Université de Moncton).

General learning outcome of the program

By the end of this program…
Students will be able to apply management principals in various fields relating to dietetics.

General learning outcome of a course

By the end of this course…
Students will be able to analyze the nutritional needs of people with various medical conditions.

As part of an undergraduate program in physics…

Program goal
The purpose of this program is to…
Develop the students’ intellectual curiosity and critical thinking with respect to science.

General learning outcome of the program

By the end of this program…
Students will be able to apply concepts from various fields of physics (i.e. electromagnetism,
thermodynamics, modern physics, etc.) to complex problems.

General learning outcome of a course

By the end of this course…
Students will be able to understand how stars work and evolve.

To conclude this section, there is no magic formula to determine the optimal number of goals and general
learning outcomes that should be included in a program. Since the goals are very broad, it is conceivable
to have a rather limited number, i.e. three to six. The learning outcomes of a program can be higher in
number, easily ranging from four to 12. A typical 3-credit university course (45 course hours) usually has
two to six general outcomes. Several factors can be taken into consideration when determining the
number of general outcomes of a course, such as when the course is taken (at the start or end of a
program), what level it is taken at (undergraduate or graduate), and the nature of the targeted learning
(general knowledge versus more specific analyses and applications). Thus, it is very useful for professors,
and indeed all faculty members in charge of an academic program, to work together on developing an
overview for the program to ensure a logical progression and an internal consistency.
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2.2 Specific learning outcomes

Specific outcomes relate content to ability by formulating as precisely as possible the knowledge, skills or
abilities that a learner must acquire or improve during or by the end of a learning situation (Legendre,
2005). Specific outcomes help relate a given subject to a course outcome (general outcome) and the
performance expected of the students. Briefly, specific outcomes:
• Result from the reduction or decomposition of a general outcome;
• List the behaviours or external manifestations of an internal change (general outcome) or
knowledge, abilities, or skills expected from the general outcome;
• Represent the expected behaviours of students, i.e. an observable reaction or behaviour
(external change).

The verbs used in the writing of specific outcomes are action verbs that enable us to observe (directly or
indirectly) and evaluate the performance in question with a greater degree of accuracy.

3. Writing learning outcomes: principles, considerations, and other examples

The purpose of this next section is to explain the key factors involved in writing general and specific
learning outcomes, which must be clear, concise, and most importantly, consistent in order to effectively
reflect the faculty member’s educational intentions.

3.1 Writing general learning outcomes

As presented earlier, the general learning outcomes represent the outcomes of a program or course,
whether they are related to knowledge, abilities, or skills to be developed. General learning outcomes are
short statements of only a few lines based on the learning outcomes or results to be achieved and generally
start with a verb. General learning outcomes for a program or a course can be prepared by completing the
following sentences, for example:
By the end of the course,
Students will,…will be able to…
To complete such a sentence, professors would have a series of statements that start with verbs or general
verbal expressions that relate to the various levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy (Table 2). The general learning
outcomes for programs and courses presented in Example 2 are good illustrations of learning involving
various levels of cognitive complexity.

3.2 Writing specific learning outcomes

Specific outcomes represent the operational level for the targeted learning outcomes of a course. They
too consist of a brief statement geared towards what the students should be able to understand or do in
order to meet the general learning outcomes set out for the course. Specific outcomes start with an action
verb (see verbs – specific outcomes in Table 2), one or more complements, and, in some cases, conditions
for completion. The complements and conditions for completion help clarify the nature and specific
context of the learning, thus ensuring a higher degree of alignment between the general learning outcome
and the specific outcomes that stem from it.

As with the writing of general outcomes, there is no prescribed formula for establishing an optimal number
of specific outcomes for each general outcome of a course. In principle, depending on the content of the
general outcome in question, there are usually two to six specific outcomes. Some examples of specific
course learning outcomes related to general course learning outcomes are presented in Example 3. When
reviewing these examples, pay special attention to the verbs used for the general outcomes (i.e. overall
Writing Learning Outcomes: Principles, Considerations, and Examples 7

and general scope aimed at an internal change) and the specific outcomes (i.e. a more targeted scope
aimed at an external behaviour that demonstrates the targeted learning). Also take note of the
complements and, in some cases, the conditions of completion that provide a greater degree of precision
with respect to what the students must be able to accomplish in terms of their learning:

Example 3
As part of a master’s course in education – school administration (quantitative methods in research):

General outcome - Students will be able to analyze the data from various qualitative and quantitative
analysis methods in examining issues relating to the administrative leadership of schools.

Specific outcome - Students will be able to explain the meaning of the results obtained from various
inferential analyses using case studies.

As part of an undergraduate course in history (History of Canada):

General outcome - Students will know the major stages and aspects of the historical evolution of
Canada from the arrival of the first humans to the present day (based on the History of Canada course
– Université Laval).

Specific outcome - Students will be able to name the main First Nations who lived on what is now
considered Canadian soil before the arrival of the first Europeans.

As part of an undergraduate course in physics (Astronomy):

General outcome - Students will be able to understand how stars work and evolve.

Specific outcome - Students will be able to explain the nucleosynthesis of the elements in stars.

As part of an undergraduate training course in nutrition and dietetics (Clinical Nutrition):

General outcome - Students will be able to analyze the nutritional needs of individuals with various
medical conditions.

Specific outcome - Students will be able to detect the nutritional deficiencies of geriatric patients with
various medical conditions using case studies.

Here is another example that presents the link between general and specific outcomes taken from a
university undergraduate course. This example clearly illustrates the link between outcomes, content, and
course evaluation. This type of table can be used as a medium- and long-term planning tool and can even
be integrated into the course plan, enabling students to see at a glance the proposed learning outcomes
and course sequence.

Table 3: Excerpt from a course plan presenting a long-term plan showing the links between
the general and specific outcomes, course content, and learning assessment
(adapted from the course SANT 1003 – Initiation to University Studies, Université
de Moncton).

Course #/ General Specific outcomes Educational Activities: Assessment

date Outcomes Individual (I),
Group (G), Class (C)
3 Use self-learning 3.1 Choose various ways to Mapping (theory CLIC (Oct. 17)
Sept. 10 methods that connect the main workshop) (G and I) Submit the four
facilitate the concepts of a subject group maps in the
4 ongoing renewal of of study, e.g. a graphic Presentation of related drop box, including
Sept. 15 organizer. content (C) those needing
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knowledge and correction (7

skills. Practice exam on CLIC (I) points).

Access verification - Final exam

Student Services modules
9 Interpret health 9.1 Define information Presentation of related Final exam and
Oct. 1 sciences literacy skills. content (C) project
documentary 9.2 Explain the importance (Librarian)
resources. of information literacy
skills in terms of
university studies.

16 Establish a bank of 16.1 Produce an electronic Presentation of related Final exam

Nov. 5 health sciences portfolio that shows content (C) Submit portfolio
documentary the required entries Dec. 5
resources. (theory workshop).

4. Conclusion
The content and the specificity of learning outcomes have a major impact on the quality of our programs
and courses. A program or course without clearly defined outcomes is, by analogy, comparable to running
a race without a finish line. How can you determine if you’ve arrived?! For faculty, the challenge is to
identify the various benchmarks of our programs and courses in order to establish a progressive and logical
continuum that will ensure a better quality of instruction, including fairer and more equitable student
learning assessment practices.

The content presented in this document provides a summary of a much broader subject. Appendix A
presents a brief recap of the nomenclature proposed in this guide, illustrating at a glance the different
levels of program and course planning. The hope is that the principles, considerations, and examples
presented in this guide will be helpful to the academic staff (faculty and administrators) in their respective
duties. It is important for us, in all our institutions, to continue to offer high quality programs and an
outstanding educational experience for our students. Quality learning starts with clear and concise
planning!

References

Bercier-Larivière, M., & Forgette-Giroux, R. (1999). L’évaluation des apprentissages scolaires: une question de
justesse. Canadian Journal of Education / Revue canadienne de l'éducation, 24(2), 169-182.

Bloom, B.S. (1956). Taxonomy of educational objectives. Handbook I: Cognitive domain. New York: David McKay Co
Inc.

Bok, D. (2008). Our underachieving colleges: A candid look at how much students learn and why they should be
learning more. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press.

Gronlund, N., & Brookhart, S. (2008). Gronlund's writing instructional objectives. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Pearson.

Legendre, R. (2005). Dictionnaire actuel de l’éducation. Montréal, Que.: Guérin.

Miller, M.E, Linn, R.L., & Gronlund, N.E. (2013) Measurement and Assessment in Teaching. New York, N.Y: Pearson.

Morissette, D. (1993). Les examens de rendement scolaire. Ste-Foy, Que.: Les presses de l’Université Laval.

Prégent, R. (1994). Charting your course: how to prepare to teach more effectively. Madison, Wis.: Magna
Publications
Writing Learning Outcomes: Principles, Considerations, and Examples 9
Appendix A
Nomenclature for Program and Course Development and Planning

Program goal
General statement of intent and direction that explains one or more
objectives of the program.
Verbs: develop, educate, become familiar with, be aware, initiate, acquire,
broaden, etc.

General learning outcome of a program

The purpose of the learning outcome of a program is to clarify the internal and lasting
changes following program of instruction. The general outcomes of a program provide a
direction with respect to the areas of learning to be developed by the end of a program.
Verbs: know, understand, apply, analyze, evaluate, etc. (See Table 2, p. 3.)

General learning outcome of a course

The purpose of a learning outcome of a course is to specify the internal and lasting
changes by the end of a course. The general outcomes of a course provide a direction
with respect to the areas of learning to be developed by the end of a course.
Verbs: know, understand, apply, analyze, evaluate, etc. (See Table 2, p. 3.)

Specific outcome of a course

Specific outcomes relate content to ability by formulating as precisely as possible the knowledge,
skills and abilities that a learner must acquire or improve during or by the end of a learning
situation. This external manifestations must be easily observable.
Verbs (action): list, describe, summarize, establish, justify, etc. (See Table 2, p. 3.)