Importance and Benefits of

Learning Outcomes
Mrunal Mahajan and Manvinder
Kaur Sarjit Singh
Awang Had Salleh Graduate School of Arts and
Sciences
Universiti Utara Malaysia
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
st
21 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.
Key words: Course, programme, leaning
outcomes, measurable, achievable, assessment.
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).

II. WHAT ARE

LEARNING OUTCOMES
Learning outcomes are like navigation tool, such
as GPS. Once destination is fed to GPS the device
guides the driver throughout the journey and takes
the driver to the mentioned destination correctly
without fear
of losing the way. Even if the driver takes a wrong
route, the GPS guides the driver and helps to join
the route
which leads to the intended destination. Similarly
learning outcomes are guiding tools which guide
the students
to the desired results of the planned course. They
also show and help the teachers the path to be
followed and
make the students aware what they will be able to
achieve at the end of the course. Also they help
the teachers
and the students know the route to be followed.

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).
IV. HOW TO WRITE LEARNING
OUTCOMES
Learning outcomes need to be specific and
measurable. Learning outcomes are generally
written based on
Bloom’s Taxonomy. Bloom's Taxonomy explains
the process of learning and hence has proved to be
a powerful
tool to help develop learning outcomes. The
concept in Bloom’s taxonomy is very simple.
 Before understanding the concept, remembering
it well,
 Understand it before you apply it,
 Analyse the process before you evaluate it.

Importance And Benefits Of Learning Outcomes

DOI: 10.9790/0837-2203056567
www.iosrjournals.org
66 | Page
Concept in Writing Learning outcomes
Learning outcomes should be based on the
following factors:
 Knowledge - Knowledge about the subject,
familiarity, awareness or understanding of the
subject, such as
facts, information, descriptions, or skills, which is
acquired through experience or education by
discovering
or learning. The commonly used words are list,
recognize, define etc.
 Cognitive – Intellectual skills, should include
how to apply knowledge to actions, should include
problem
solving skills. The commonly used words are
describe, explain, identify etc.
 Practical – How to design and carry out
experiments? The commonly used words are
demonstrate,
implement etc.
 Generic Skills - Generic skills include
problem solving techniques, keys to learning. The
commonly used
words are analyse, compare etc.
 V.

IMPORTANCE OF LEARNING

OUTCOMES
Learning outcomes are indicators of success of
an academic course/programme. Learning
outcomes
give a clear idea of what can be achieved by
joining a particular programme. Whether it’s a
short course or a
degree programme, the learning outcomes should
be listed and written down before the start of the
course to
know and to check whether the course is designed
and conducted perfectly. Based on the identified
learning
outcomes, teaching context, learning activities
and assessment scheme have to be properly
designed to
successfully conduct and complete the course /
programme.
 VI. BENEFITS

OF LEARNING OUTCOMES
6.1 Students clearly understand beforehand what
they are going to learn from the
course/programme.
 Learning outcomes help the student choose
appropriate course/programme.
 Well defined learning outcomes remove the risk
wasting time.
 Reduce unnecessary stress on the students.
 Learning outcomes gives a clear idea to the
students of what are they going to learn or achieve
at the end of
the class before the start of every class.
 Learning outcomes highlights what exactly and
more importantly students should know to achieve
from that
particular course.
 By achieving Learning outcomes students can
demonstrate that he/she has reached the summit of
the course.
6.2 Benefiting Teachers find it easy to plan a
lesson
 Learning outcomes help teachers plan a lesson
 Learning outcomes give a clear idea of what and
how much to teach and plan accordingly.
 Learning outcomes help teachers design their
teaching material more effectively.
Importance And Benefits Of Learning Outcomes
DOI: 10.9790/0837-2203056567
www.iosrjournals.org
67 | Page
 Learning outcomes help teachers select
appropriate strategies for teaching.
 Learning outcomes help teachers avoid extra
teaching which ultimately help in saving time.
6.3 Help in writing Assessments & Evaluation
 Learning outcomes make Assessments mapping
clear & easy.
 Learning outcomes make midway corrections
possible.
 Learning outcomes make students study on their
own and come to the class well prepared.
 Evaluation
 Learning outcomes help in measuring the
effectiveness of the unit.
 Learning outcomes play a major role in
allocation of marks while setting question papers.
6.4 Help Academic Advisors and Advisees
 Learning outcomes help advisors to focus on the
questions on WHAT students should be learning
and HOW
they are going to teach this.
6.5 Help in securing Accreditation
 Learning outcomes help Accreditation agencies
to assess whether the course / programme has met
the mission
and goals of the Institution.
 Learning outcomes help to know how the course
or programme has been structured and different
processes
for evaluating the students’ learning.
 Learning outcomes work as a kind of evidences
e.g. rubric, charts or graphs related to summative
learning
goals.
 Learning outcomes help the Accreditation
Agencies in ascertaining whether the desired
objectives are met.

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/socrate
s/ ects/doc/guide_en.pdf.
[5] Gosling D. and Moon J, “How to Use
Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria”,
SEEC Office,
London, 2001.

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