Importance and Benefits of Learning Outcomes
Importance and Benefits of Learning Outcomes
Importance and Benefits of Learning Outcomes
Abstract: In Asian countries there was a time when students used to study and their teachers & parents used to
guide them. However, there has been a shift, the 21st century students have become independent learners. They
understand what they want. They choose the courses of their choice. Learning outcomes of a course or
programme clearly show what the student is going to achieve at the end of the course or programme. This article
presents the importance of learning outcomes of a course/programme, how they are formally specified / written
and why students should read and understand the learning outcomes (LOs) before they chose a course or
programme.
I. INTRODUCTION
An academic course or a programme is developed successfully based on the clear idea of what can be
achieved at the end of the course / programme. And the programme can be launched only if its learning
outcomes are clearly specified and communicated in writing. In Europe it is very common to write learning
outcomes to define any courses. According to Gosling and Moon (2001) outcomes-based approach to teaching
is becoming more and more popular at an international level. This approach has been progressively adopted
within credit framework and by national quality and qualifications authorities such as the QAA (Quality
Assurance Agency for Higher Education) in the UK, the Australian, New Zealand and South African
Qualification Authorities (Gosling and Moon).
III. DEFINITION
Learning outcomes are written statements of what the successful student/learner is expected to be able to chieve
at the end of the programme module/course unit or qualification (Adam, 2004).Learning outcomes are tatements
of what a learner is expected to know, understand and/or be able to demonstrate after completion of a process of
learning (ECTS Users’ Guide, 2005).
REFERENCES
[1] Adam, S, “Using learning outcomes. A consideration of the nature, role, application and implications for
European education of employing ‘learning outcomes’ at the local, national and international levels”,
United Kingdom Bologna Seminar, Edinburgh, Scotland, 2004.
[2] Bloom B.S, “Taxonomy of Educational Objectives”, Book 1, Cognitive Domain, Longman
Publishing, 1975.
[3] ECTS Users’ Guide Brussels: Directorate-General for Education and Culture” 2005.
[4] Available online at http://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/socrates/ ects/doc/guide_en.pdf.
[5] Gosling D. and Moon J, “How to Use Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria”, SEEC Office,
London, 2001.