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Outcome-Based Course Design

Learning outcomes are explicit descriptions of what students are expected to learn in a course. Such outcomes guide instruction and assessment because they give the instructor and students specific criteria which the students should meet. The goal of an outcome-based course, therefore, is to:

  • give students a clear set of learning outcomes,
  • support students in learning each outcome's requisite skills and knowledge, and
  • help students successfully demonstrate these skills and knowledge for assessment purposes.

To learn more about designing an outcome-based course, please review the links below:

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a a Internet Resources for Higher Education Outcomes Assessment
North Carolina State University
A comprehensive list of resources on outcome-based assessment.
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a a The Essentials of Learning Outcomes
Royal Roads University
A description of how and why outcomes are used in course design.