LO1. Distinguish Aims, Learning Objectives, Learning Outcomes

What is the difference between aims, learning objectives and learning outcomes?

Aims or goals in teaching and learning are the desired intentions and outcomes of an institution, program or course. They indicate and promote the main values and general directions that guide the process of teaching and learning.

Example: Curriculum and teaching practices aim to link students’ learning experiences to the world graduates will confront.

Learning Objectives refer to teachers’ intentions for learners, such as what trainees will be taught during the course or program. Learning objectives reflect what teachers do.

Example: Students will be taught the conceptual and theoretical tools used in reasoning and problem solving, such as statistics, probability, logic, and decision theory.

Learning outcomes are statement of what a student will be able to do or demonstrate at the completion of a certain sequence of learning (course, program). Learning outcomes are mainly concerned with the achievements of the learner and less with the intentions of the teacher.

Learning outcomes inform students of what is expected of them in terms of performance, to achieve desired grades and credits.

Example: To demonstrate the ability to use mathematical and statistical techniques relevant in the business subjects taught.

The example below reflects this taxonomy and useful verbs that can be used to design learning outcomes:

Levels of Learning	Verbs
Knowledge (recalling facts)	state, identify, select, define, name, match, quote, cite, report, deliver, write, relate, perform, identify, indicate, list, name, recall, recognise, select, state, recount, illustrate
Comprehension (capacity to see and understand relationships)	associate, convert, compare, outline, translate, summarise, arrange, defend, discuss, describe, distinguish, estimate, explain, interpret, infer, demonstrate, outline, report, restate, review, suggest
Application (use of knowledge)	apply, determine, illustrate, restructure, solve, use, change, develop, employ, construct, demonstrate, discover, dramatise, employ, illustrate, interpret, investigate, conduct, modify, operate, organise, classify,

	practice, predict, prepare, produce, schedule, sketch, solve, translate
Analysis (deconstruction and investigation of knowledge)	analyse, examine, differentiate, examine, distinguish, categorise, question, summarise, research, categorise, differentiate, compare, critique, relate, select, debate, determine, probe, structure, discriminate, experiment, distinguish, identify, question, solve, test
Synthesis (combining information into a new connected unit of knowledge)	combine, assemble, compose, create, unify, formulate, design, integrate, propose, synthesise, adapt, rearrange, compile, construct, devise, explain, generate, plan, restructure, collate, systematise, propose, rearrange, reconstruct, systemise, relate, reorganise, revise
Evaluation (judging the value or appropriateness)	evaluate, assess, critique, rate, score, conclude, criticise, judge, defend, validate, prioritise, disprove, criticise, discriminate, estimate, contrast, revise, grade, justify, interpret, measure, calculate