Tempus Project INARM

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General principles of linking learning outcomes, teaching and learning activities and assessment

Michaela Handke and Veronika Nitsche (WUS Austria) www.wus-austria.org

Steps involved in linking Learning Outcomes, Teaching and Learning Activities and Assessment
Clearly define the learning outcomes. Select teaching and learning methods that are likely to ensure that the learning outcomes are achieved. Choose a technique or techniques to assess the achievement of the learning outcomes. Assess the learning outcomes and check to see how well they match with what was intended

The bigger picture

ECTS/curriculum development

Teaching methods/learning experience

Learning Outcomes/Competences

Development of a Module

Identify aims and objectives of module

Write learning outcomes using standard guidelines

Develop a teaching and learning strategy to enable students to achieve learning outcomes

Design assessment to check if learning outcomes have been achieved

If necessary modify module content and

assessment in light of feedback

Assessment criterion - definition

An assessment criterion is a statement that prescribes with greater precision than a learning outcome, the quality of performance that will show that the student has reached a particular standard. The standard may be the threshold that is described by the learning outcome or the standard that is required in order to gain a particular grade.

Learning Outcomes Definition

Learning outcomes are statements of what a student should know, understand and/or be able to demonstrate after completion of a process of learning.

Learning Outcomes Definition

The learning activity could be, for example, a lecture, a module or an entire programme. Learning outcomes must not simply be a wish list of what a student is capable of doing on completion of the learning activity. Learning outcomes must be simply and clearly described. Learning outcomes must be capable of being validly assessed.

From the definition of Learning Outcome we see

... an emphasis on the learner and an emphasis on the learners ability to do something.
Focus on teaching aims and objectives and use of terms like know, understand, be familiar with. Focus learning outcomes: what we want the student to be able to do - use of terms like define, list, name, recall, analyse, calculate, design, etc.

Linking Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

Learning outcomes imply the assessment criteria! Assessment criteria may be developed from the learning outcome or from the assessment task but in either case they should relate to the learning outcome Assessment criteria should test, assess or relate to the learning that is mentioned in the learning outcome. E.g if you say students must write something, you should not test them orally.

Linking Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

What are assessment criteria in relation to assessment methods and tasks etc?
While assessment methods are the tasks undertaken by the student such as writing an essay that is subject to assessment, assessment criteria are the basis on which a judgment of the adequacy of the work is made.

Teaching vs. Learning

! Thank you for your attention!