Image PlaceholderCourse learning outcomes (CLOs) describe the knowledge and skills (competencies) students should be able to demonstrate as a result of completing a course. Generally, a course has between five and eight learning outcomes. This guide suggests some best practices for writing CLOs.

A well-written CLO is brief, measurable, and focused on student behavior:

EXAMPLE: 
(measurable verb) Analyze (desired student behavior) primary and secondary sources.

Use a Consistent Sentence Structure

The subject of every CLO is understood to be “Upon completion of this course, students will be able to...”, so do not include this phrase in your outcome statements. Simply start each CLO with an appropriate verb, then describe the desired learning outcome. Also, do not use bullets, numbering, or symbols in the Curriculog form fields. All outcomes should be top-level bullet points (no sub-bullets or indents).

 INCORRECT
 CORRECT
 • Upon completion of this course, students will be able to describe the dynamics of power in the international political system.
 Describe the dynamics of power in the international political system.
 2. Students will be able to demonstrate how to troubleshoot a network configuration.
 Troubleshoot a network configuration

Make it Measurable

Use verbs that are measurable, demonstrable, and observable. Avoid ill-defined and unmeasurable verbs.

 UNMEASURABLE VERBS and VERB PHRASES
 MEASURABLE VERBS
Know, demonstrate knowledge, understand, demonstrate understanding, realize, become aware of, become familiar with, learn, demonstrate learning, learn how to
Identify, define, describe, discuss, explain, solve, calculate, demonstrate, apply, analyze, compare, assemble, create, design, critique, diagnose, evaluate, recommend, etc.
Poor examples:
  • Develop a basic understanding of spreadsheet formulas.      
  • Gain knowledge of conflict resolution strategies.
Better examples:
  • Use spreadsheet formulas.
  • Apply communication strategies to resolve conflicts.

Avoid Unnecessary Detail

CLOs should be clear and precise. Use succinct sentences and succinct verbs. If your CLO is longer than one sentence, chances are you’re identifying multiple learning outcomes that can be split into separate statements. Anything that describes something other than the final CLO is unnecessary. Leave that level of detail for the course.

Avoid descriptions of learning activities, assignments, and assessments

If your chosen verb is something like research, discover, study, practice, experience, learn about, acquire knowledge, or explore, you’re probably describing preparatory activity, not the learning outcome. Also, how instructors assess CLOs can vary. One instructor might require an essay; another might require a project. This is acceptable, as long as both assessments measure whether students have achieved the desired CLOs.

 UNNECESSARY DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES
 CONSIDER…
Read several original source materials…
After they read the source materials, then what?
Attend two concerts…
Observe weekly patient interactions…
Pass a 100-question multiple-choice test…
What learning outcomes are assessed in the test?
Observe weekly patient interactions…
What will they do with the information they gain from the observations?
Write a 5-page paper…
What learning outcomes do you want students to demonstrate in this paper?
Deliver a 10-minute presentation…
What skills do students demonstrate in that presentation?

Avoid descriptions of what the instructor will do

Think of CLOs as “outputs.” Instructor activities are “inputs,” and do not need to be described.

 UNNECESSARY DESCRIPTION OF OUTPUTS
 CONSIDER…
We will cover various topics related to…
After you teach, what will students do?
Through lectures, students will be introduced to…
After they’re “introduced,” then what?
Instructor edits drafts so students can revise their essay…
What will students do?

Avoid unnecessary adverbs

Adverbs such as effectively, appropriately, or accurately are generally unnecessary because the CLO assumes that students will perform the task well or they would not receive a passing grade.

 UNNECESSARY ADVERBS
 BETTER…
Accurately calculate return on investment.
Calculate return on investment.
Skillfully solder components to a circuit board.
Solder components to a circuit board.

Avoid wordiness

Be concise. Using extra, unnecessary words makes a sentence harder for students to understand, and more difficult for non-native English speakers to interpret.

 WORDY
 MORE CONCISE…
Make a determination about the validity of a study.
Determine the validity of a study.
Participate in a discussion of the pros and cons of the electoral college.
Discuss the pros and cons of the electoral college.
Craft an explanation of photosynthesis.
Explain photosynthesis.
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Last Revision: 9/16/24 REL