Developing Program Learning Outcomes

Developing Program Learning Outcomes To help in the quality of services

Program Learning Outcomes What is essential to this degree or certificate program • Why are students enrolling • What does the public think a student with this degree or certificate should know and/or be able to do

Learning Outcomes Statements describing what you expect students to know and or be able to do as a result of completing a particular degree or certificate program (or just a series of courses in some instances)

Purpose of Developing Outcomes • Modify, shape, and improve programs • Evaluate programs not personnel • Assist in meeting accreditation requirements, models of best practices, and national benchmarks

Deciding on the program outcomes • Why are you offering this program? • Why are students enrolling in this course? • What knowledge and/or skills will students gain from using this service? • What knowledge and/or skills will students gain from taking this course?

Objectives vs. Outcome Objectives : Are more a list of the content that will be covered in a particular program.

Counseling Objectives • Coincide with the Institutional Learning Outcomes • Communication • Critical Thinking • Global Awareness • Information Management • Personal and Professional Development

To achieve the learning outcomes: Skills students will master in the class: • Speaking in a group setting • Outlining a speech • Analyzing the speaking situation, the audience, and speaking in general Concepts: • Delivery • Audience analysis • Outlining • Language • Persuasion

Writing Learning Outcomes Active verbs that describe the desired result at the end • try to avoid using action verbs that cannot be measured (know, become aware of, appreciate, learn, understand, become familiar with )

Writing Learning Outcomes • Is it measurable? • Is it meaningful? • Is it manageable? • Who is the target audience of my outcome? • Who would know if my outcome has been met? • How will I know if it has been met? • Will it provide me with evidence that will lead me to make a decision for continuous improvement?

Sample Counseling Learning Outcomes Students will walk away from a counseling session with: • an understanding of their personal responsibility in creating their own academic, personal, and professional successes. • an awareness of how to utilize the necessary information, resources, and options available for them to make sound educational and lifelong decisions. • an understanding of what they need to do to achieve their desired goals.

At the end of the semester, students will know and/or be able to: construct a clear general purpose, specific purpose, and thesis statement with the intent of focusing the speech to one topic; assessment will include collection of working and/or formal outlines, in class activities, quizzes and exams and/or assignments construct a well structured speech by properly identifying an introduction, body and conclusion; assessment will include collection of working and/or formal outlines, in class activities, quizzes and exams and/or assignments identify the skills displayed by a competent speaker by analyzing their own speeches, classmates speeches, and/or a professional speech in the community; assessment will include collection of analysis, in class discussion and/or activities and assignments describe how a speech should be tailored to a specific audience; assessment will include evaluation of impromptu and formal speeches, quizzes and exams and/or activities and assignments demonstrates the ability to deliver a well-structured speech to the class; assessment will include evaluation of impromptu and formal speeches

Assessment • We need to seriously ask ourselves if students are learning the skills and knowledge that they will need to be successful in a career that requires this degree or certificate

Assessment Students need to understand the expectations of the level of learning and also how they are assessed.

Assessment • Pair sharing • Collaborative Learning • Written analysis • Speeches (formal and informal) • Exam • Reflection paper • Student Debates

Developing Program Learning Outcomes