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Writing Undergraduate Programme Outcomes

Dr Ciara O’Farrell

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AGENDA

Review: Learning Outcomes Activity 1: Analyzing programme outcomes Activity 2: The invisible graduate Activity 3: Sample programme outcomes Open discussion: challenges and going

forward

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Learning Outcomes

Statements of what a student is expected to know, understand and/or be able to demonstrate after completion of a process of learning(ECTS Users/ Guide, 2005)

Measure output: competency-based

Sussex university

Aims, Objectives, or Learning Outcomes?

AimsAims:: Broad goals

Objectives: Measurable intentions Specific steps that take

us towards those goals Teacher-focused

Learning Outcomes: Measurable

achievements Result from a learning

process Stated as achievements

of the student

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Aim vs Learning outcome

Aim In this module students will be introduced to the

subject of the core ethical principles in social work

Learning Outcome By the end of the module the learner will be able

to critically apply the core ethical principles in social work in different case settings.

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Programme outcomes

Articulate: Knowledge and understanding needed Intellectual skills required to make use of

knowledge and understanding Specify practical skills (competencies. eg lab

skills) Generic/transferable skills (communication,

problem solving etc)

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Categories of Outcomes

Subject specific outcomes – relate to subject discipline and knowledge/skills particular to it

Generic/transferable skills/competencies – relate to any/all disciplines (teamwork, problem-solving etc)

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Sample programme outcome

On successful completion of this programme, students will be able to:

give an oral presentation in a team to a specialist audience, critically evaluating both the team’s performance and your own contribution to the team.

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Map to:

TCD Institutional Level Descriptors

NQAI framework of qualifications

Subject benchmarks and/or professional body requirements (where necessary)

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10-level framework

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Taxonomies

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programme outcomesprofessional body

requirements College award descriptors

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Local –Global Use of Outcomes

NQAI national awarddescriptors

Bologna process of the European

Higher Education Area

constructivealignment oflearning outcomesteaching strategies

assessmentevaluation

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Covert vs Overt Outcomes

Know Reflect Think critically

Understand Appreciate

Summarize Share reflections Interpret, analyze,

evaluate, construct arguments

Apply Discuss

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Writing Programme/Module Outcomes

On successful completion of this programme, students should/will be able to:

On successful completion of this module/course, students should/will be able to:

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Sample Graduate attributes/competencies

Sample Competency

Problem solving Teamwork Research skills Writing/literacy skills Interpersonal skills Communication skills Ethical behaviour

Sample Grad. Attribute “The ability to employ

techniques of analysis and enquiry”

“The ability to employ originality and creativity in formulating and applying evidence-based arguments”