Course Design Learning Outcomes Course-level VS Supporting Outcomes

In brief:

Learning Outcomes describe what you expect your students to achieve from a single class, a chapter, a course or an entire program.

Course-level learning outcomes are broad and describe what a student will be able to do as a culmination of their learning at the end of a course.

Supporting outcomes are descriptions of more discrete learning that builds up the knowledge, skills and attitudes students need to reach the course learning outcomes.

You can define supporting outcomes at the module level or the lesson-level.

Course level outcomes tell the student what they will achieve with the course.  Supporting outcomes help you, as Instructor, attend to the important foundations of your course-level outcomes. Clearly defined outcomes (course and supporting) help you select the most effective learning content, activities, and assessments for your course curriculum.

Infographic represents the cyclical process that involves course design: Course outcomes (by the end of the course...); Supporting outcomes (by the end of the module...); learning content, activities & assessments

Watch this video to learn more about distinguishing course-level and supporting outcomes

The next section will:

  • provide best practices for writing learning outcomes.
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