Writing and Assessing Student Learning Outcomes

By the end of a program of study, what do you want students to be able to do? How can your students demonstrate the knowledge the program intended them to learn? Student learning outcomes are statements developed by faculty that answer these questions. Typically, Student learning outcomes (SLOs) describe the knowledge, skills, attitudes, behaviors or values students should be able to demonstrate at the end of a program of study. A combination of methods may be used to assess student attainment of learning outcomes.

Characteristics of Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

• Describe what students should be able to demonstrate, represent or produce upon completion of a program of study (Maki, 2010)
• Rely on active verbs that identify what students should be able to demonstrate, represent, or produce (Maki, 2010)
  
  
  

Student learning outcomes also:

• Should align with the institution’s curriculum and co-curriculum outcomes (Maki, 2010)
• Should be collaboratively authored and collectively accepted (Maki, 2010)
• Should incorporate or adapt professional organizations outcome statements when they exist (Maki, 2010)
• Can be quantitatively and/or qualitatively assessed during a student’s studies (Maki, 2010)

Examples of Student Learning Outcomes

The following examples of student learning outcomes are too general and would be very hard to measure : (T. Banta personal communication, October 20, 2010)

• will appreciate the benefits of exercise science.
• will understand the scientific method.
• will become familiar with correct grammar and literary devices.
• will develop problem-solving and conflict resolution skills.

The following examples, while better are still general and again would be hard to measure. (T. Banta personal communication, October 20, 2010)

• will appreciate exercise as a stress reduction tool.
• will apply the scientific method in problem solving.
• will demonstrate the use of correct grammar and various literary devices.
• will demonstrate critical thinking skills, such as problem solving as it relates to social issues.

The following examples are specific examples and would be fairly easy to measure when using the correct assessment measure: (T. Banta personal communication, October 20, 2010)

• will explain how the science of exercise affects stress.
• will design a grounded research study using the scientific method.
• will demonstrate the use of correct grammar and various literary devices in creating an essay.
• will analyze and respond to arguments about racial discrimination.

Importance of Action Verbs and Examples from Bloom’s Taxonomy

• Action verbs result in overt behavior that can be observed and measured (see list below).
• Verbs that are unclear, and verbs that relate to unobservable or unmeasurable behaviors, should be avoided (e.g., appreciate, understand, know, learn, become aware of, become familiar with).
  
  

  Knowledge

  define
  identify
  describe
  label
  list
  name
  state
  match
  recognize
  select
  examine
  locate
  memorize
  quote

  Understand

  explain
  describe
  interpret
  paraphrase
  summarize
  classify
  compare
  differentiate
  discuss
  distinguish
  extend
  predict
  associate
  contrast

  Apply

  solve
  apply
  illustrate
  modify
  use
  calculate
  change
  choose
  demonstrate
  discover
  experiment
  relate
  show
  sketch

  Analyze

  analyze
  compare
  classify
  contrast
  distinguish
  infer
  separate
  explain
  select
  categorize
  connect
  differentiate
  discriminate
  divide

  Evaluate

  reframe
  criticize
  evaluate
  order
  appraise
  judge
  support
  compare
  decide
  discriminate
  recommend
  summarize
  assess
  choose

  Create

  design
  compose
  create
  plan
  combine
  formulate
  invent
  hypothesize
  substitute
  write
  compile
  construct
  develop
  generalize

Assessing SLOs

Instructors may measure student learning outcomes directly, assessing student-produced artifacts and performances; instructors may also measure student learning indirectly, relying on students own perceptions of learning.

Direct Measures of Assessment

Direct measures of student learning require students to demonstrate their knowledge and skills. They provide tangible, visible and self-explanatory evidence of what students have and have not learned as a result of a course, program, or activity (Suskie, 2004; Palomba & Banta, 1999). Examples of direct measures include:

• Objective tests
• Essays
• Presentations
• Classroom assignments
• Portfolios

This example of a Student Learning Outcome (SLO) from psychology could be assessed by an essay, case study, or presentation: Students will analyze current research findings in the areas of physiological psychology, perception, learning, abnormal and social psychology.

Indirect Measures of Assessment

Indirect measures of student learning capture students’ perceptions of their knowledge and skills; they supplement direct measures of learning by providing information about how and why learning is occurring. Examples of indirect measures include:

• Self assessment
• Peer feedback
• End of course evaluations
• Questionnaires
• Focus groups
• Exit interviews

Using the SLO example from above, an instructor could add questions to an end-of-course evaluation asking students to self-assess their ability to analyze current research findings in the areas of physiological psychology, perception, learning, abnormal and social psychology. Doing so would provide an indirect measure of the same SLO.

References

Bloom, B. (1956) A taxonomy of educational objectives, The classification of educational goals-handbook I: Cognitive domain . New York: McKay .

Maki, P.L. (2004). Assessing for learning: Building a sustainable commitment across the institution . Sterling, VA: Stylus.

Maki, P.L. (2010 ). Assessing for learning: Building a sustainable commitment across the institution (2nd ed.) . Sterling, VA: Stylus.

Palomba, C.A., & Banta, T.W. (1999). Assessment essentials: Planning, implementing, and improving assessment in higher education . San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Suskie, L. (2004). Assessing student learning: A common sense guide. Bolton, MA: Anker Publishing.

Revised by Terri Tarr (February, 2014)

Revised by Doug Jerolimov (April, 2016)