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Writing Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

For academic (curricular) or co-curricular programs, we suggest the learning outcomes should include active-verb description of specific point or task that students will accomplish and are aligned with program, department, and university level goals.

Suggested structure: Graduates of this program will be able to (specific skill or competency).

Developing Outcomes – use the following template when constructing a learning outcome:

[Target population] will [cognitive action verb] [context specific action]

Target Population Examples:

  • Programs: Graduates of _(degree)_in _(program)_ will…
  • Courses: Students who complete _(course)_ will…

Cognitive Action Verbs - Taxonomy Examples:

Bloom's taxonomy divides learning into three domains: cognitive, affective and psychomotor. Cognitive skills are organized into a hierarchy of six categories: remember, understand, apply, analyze, evaluate and create. The following university websites provide verb lists that aid in developing learning outcomes at any level:

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Anderson, L.W. & Krathwohl, D.R., (Eds.). (2000). A taxonomy for learning, teaching and assessing: A revision of Bloom's taxonomy of educational objectives. London, England: Pearson.

Fink's taxonomy of significant learning is non-hierarchical with each element interacting with one another to stimulate other kinds of learning. The following university website provides verb lists that aid in developing learning outcomes at any level:

Fink, L.D. (2013). Creating Significant Learning Experiences: An Integrated Approach to Designing College Courses, Revised and Updated taxonomy for learning, teaching and assessing: A revision of Bloom's taxonomy of educational objectives. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Medicine Wheel Framework by Marcella LaFever suggests a fourth domain (Spiritual, transcend self-interest) that serve all students, by incorporating Indigenous ways of knowing into how we think about, value and evaluate student learning

LaFever, M. (2016). Switching from Bloom to the Medicine Wheel: creating learning outcomes that support Indigenous ways of knowing in post-secondary education, Intercultural Education, 27:5, 409-424, DOI: 

Context Specific Action:

  • Keep specific to the program or course – a topic/concept students would not be able to learn, value or gain skill without this specific educational experience  

Examples of Student Learning Outcomes:

Program Learning Outcome (PLOs):

[Graduates who earn a BS in Crop Science] will [apply crop plant management techniques] [to achieve high agricultural field yields].  

Course Learning Outcome (CLOs):

[Students who complete World Crop Distribution 10100] will [identify the types of naturally occurring plant communities] [in different geographic locations around the world].  

For more details, download this Program Learning Outcomes Quick Guide (PDF)

Operational Outcomes (aka "Success Outcomes" in Watermark)

For administrative units, we suggest the operational outcomes should include an active-verb description of a specific point or task that students or staff will accomplish and are aligned with department and university level goals.

Examples of Operational Outcomes:

  • Students will articulate their level of satisfaction with the services they receive from the financial aid office.

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