LibGuides: Assessment Resources: Learning Outcomes

Getting Started with Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

A learning outcome is a concise description of what students will learn and what they should be able to do at the end of a course or program. It also informs students on the learning that will be assessed. Having clearly articulated learning outcomes can make designing a course, assessing student learning progress, and facilitating learning progress more effective. Learning outcomes can also help students regulate their learning and develop effective learning strategies.

Janio, J. (2025, March 21). Behavior Control Is Real: Education Can't Look Away Now. Psychology Today.

Pratt Outcomes Criteria

Identify the purpose and scope of the course, program, or institutional outcome

Use action verbs

Include one demonstrable verb per outcome

Consider Bloom's or another learning taxonomy

Ensure each outcome can be demonstrated through artifacts of student work and other forms of student learning, which may also include self-assessment

Align outcomes with Institute mission and goals, curriculum, and co-curriculum

Keep outcomes concise

Use language accessible to all stakeholders

Pratt Goal Definition

Goals articulate in broad terms the substance and skills that students can expect to gain through the totality of learning opportunities available at Pratt.

Pratt Outcome Definition

Outcomes are holistic, incorporating a range of learning inclusive of disciplinary, higher-order, and transferable skills that specify what students demonstrate through the totality of their learning experiences at Pratt.

View as a GoogleDoc:

Pratt Outcomes Definitions

Benefits of Learning Outcomes:

Students

Communicate the ideas, concepts, skills students need to master by the end of the course or program
Create equity and accessibility of knowledge through shared language and expectations
Increase accountability and responsibility for learning Instructors/Directors

Instructors/Directors

Provide a framework and rationale for making course or curriculum decisions about the sequence of topics or courses and instruction
Communicate to students what they must do to make progress in learning in the course or program.
Articulate your intentions for learning to all stakeholders.

Smart Goals

Verb Suggestions for SLOs

Bloom's Three Domain Action Verbs
Action verbs for writing learning objectives in three domains. Compiled by Pratt Institute's School of Information Curriculum Committee. Adapted from Bloom’s taxonomy of educational learning objectives.
Bloom's Revised Cognitive Taxonomy Action Verbs
A set of verbs categorized by how they illustrate Bloom's Taxonomy of Learning Domains. To be used in the formulation of learning obectives.