Workshop on Developing Program Objectives and Learning Outcomes

1
Workshop onDeveloping Program Objectives and
Learning Outcomes

• By
• Dr. Mohammad S. Al-Homoud
• Dean, Scientific Research
• And
• Dr. Ibrahim Al-Jabri
• Director, Program Assessment Center
• Deanship of Academic Development
• King Fahd University of Petroleum Minerals

2
AGENDA

• Opening Remarks, Dean-DAD
• Introduction
• What is good Program Objective?
• What is good Learning Outcome?
• ATs Observations
• Break
• Exercise 1 Developing Program Objectives
• Presentations Program Objectives
• Exercise 2 Developing Learning Outcomes
• Presentations Learning Outcomes
• Closing

3
What is good objective?

• Relevant to the mission of the university
• Each addresses one or more needs of one or more
  of the program constituents
• Understandable by the program constituents
• Clear, concise, and consistent
• Realistic/achievable
• Measurable
• Forward looking (not short term)
• Manageable list (limited number of statements)
• Focus on student learning

4
What is good outcome?

• Relative to the missions of the program and
  university
• Describe the expected learning outcomes for
  students from individual courses/the program as a
  whole
• Reflect what the students are expected to know
  and be able to do rather than what the
  course/program intends to cover.
• Each describes an area of knowledge and/or skill
  that a person is expected to possess
• Supportive of one or more educational objectives
• Describe observable behaviors using action verbs
  (i.e. apply, identify, solve, construct, etc.)
  and avoid vague words that might be open to
  interpretation (i.e. understand, appreciate,
  etc.)
• Assessable (outcomes can be demonstrated in terms
  of performance)

5
ATs Observations

• objectives dont distinguish programs from each
  other.
• Objectives dont reveal program uniqueness
• There is a mix between objectives and outcomes.
• The tie between Objectives and Outcomes is
  confusing
• Involvement of the constituents is not documented

6
ATs Observations (contd)

• No evidence was provided of what role the
  constituents played in the formulation of the
  objectives
• Assessment measures are mostly indirect (i.e.
  surveys)
• Assessment results are not utilized to improve
  the curricula (close the loop)
• Objectives and Outcomes must be published
  publicly (i.e. Dept. webpage)

7
BREAK
8
Exercise 1

• Developing Program Objectives

9
Exercise 2

• Developing Learning Outcomes

10

• THANK YOU