How to Write a Learning Outcome (5 of 9)
Have you ever completed a course where you were unsure of the actual outcomes? Or, on the contrary, where the outcomes were so specific you knew exactly what you were going to get out of it? How would these experiences feel from a learner perspective? Clear learning outcomes are effective when they articulate what the learner can achieve as a result of completing your course.
‘If you don’t know where you are going, you will end up some place else.’ Yogi Berra.
What are learning outcomes?
Learning outcomes articulate what learners can expect to be able to do as a result of completing a course; and provide an actionable measurement of how learners will be able to achieve this. Learning outcomes are made up of an action verb and a measurable outcome. Essentially, they are learner-centered statements that clearly tell learners what they will be able to do after a period of time. They should be measurable with what a learner will be able to do as a result of completing the course.
Why create learning outcomes?
As the Yogi Berra quote suggests, direction is required to ensure you get to the desired place. Learning outcomes provides this direction for the designer, educator and the learner.
As an LX Designer, learning outcomes will help you through the design process and enable you to ensure all content, activities, and interactions align to an outcome. They will ensure you design a relevant and aligned learner experience; ensuring learners know what they can expect to be able to do at the conclusion of the course.
As an educator, it will provide you with direction and ensure all interactions are purposeful and meaningful.
As a learner, it provides insights into what you will be able to do as a result of completing the course. It provides a measurable outcome that can be achieved as a result of completing the course.
What is Bloom’s Taxonomy?
Bloom's taxonomy is a great resource to help to construct learning outcomes and what the learner should be able to do as a result of this digital experience. The image below shows the revised taxonomy that represents the different levels of human cognition on a pyramid; from lower-level cognitive skills (remember, and understand) to higher order thinking (apply, analyse, evaluate, and create). It is a ‘must’ when developing learning outcomes as it provides guidance around the actions you want the learner to be able to complete. In 2001, Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy was revised to support the development of active learning that can be designed to support the chosen level of thinking. It adds an additional layer of the different software that can be used to achieve particular outcomes.
"Bloom's Taxonomy" by Vandy CFT is licensed under CC BY 2.0
How to write a learning outcome
Using Bloom’s, select an action verb and add a statement articulating what the learner will be able to do and there you have it, a learning outcome.
Learning Outcome = Action verb + what the learner will be able to do
As you list your outcomes, in particular your action verbs; try to avoid vague verbs such as understand as you need to be able to measure or observe it. Ask yourself, can I measure this? If not, then don’t use the verb. Examples of learning outcomes could be;
Identify the six cognitive skills in Bloom's Taxonomy;
Apply Bloom's Taxonomy to develop learning outcomes;
Create a learner experience map with constructively aligned learning outcomes.
Summary
Learning outcomes give designers, learners, and educators the direction required for meaningful learner experiences. Using Bloom’s taxonomy, you can easily create a learning outcome, by selecting an action verb and a statement articulating what the learner will be able to do.
Next steps
Review your learner journey map, the personas and think about the learning outcomes for your course? If you haven’t already have a look at Bloom's taxonomy and get started with your action verb. Don’t forget to review these with your critical friend before you start the next step, mapping your learner experience.
