Developing Learning Outcomes

Administrators, faculty, and student affairs professionals, through reference to and reconsideration of the institutional mission, can determine broad, campus-wide learning outcomes that support students’ learning (where learning is understood as the integration of academic learning and student development). Overall desired student learning outcomes may be categorized in various ways; one formulation used in Learning Reconsidered includes: a) cognitive complexity, b) knowledge acquisition, c) knowledge integration and application, d) humanitarianism, e) civic engagement, f) interpersonal and intrapersonal competence, g) practical competence, and h) persistence and academic achievement.

Demands for greater accountability have increased among external stakeholders, accreditation boards, parents, and the students themselves. More important, conscientious practitioners and teachers desire to improve their work and support student learning. In response, the development and assessment of student learning outcomes has come to serve as a strong basis for supporting and documenting transformative learning experiences. This new focus on deliberate and in-depth examination of desired learning outcomes throughout the entire student experience requires the development of new knowledge, skills, and methods among all campus educators and calls for the creation of a “culture of assessment” in every department and division.

• Examination and possible revision of an institution’s mission must occur in order to best support a strong student experience.
• Student affairs professionals, faculty members, administrators, and external stakeholders share an interest in student learning outcomes as a method for documenting meaningful results from learning programs and activities.
• Two approaches exist as to the development of such outcomes: 1) new programs can be developed in response to identified learning outcomes, or 2) existing programs can be examined to determine the extent to which they fulfill a specific outcome.
• Assessment of outcomes is vital to the success of their application; metrics must be developed to track progress and determine areas of needed improvement.