Unit 7: Learning Objectives
Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) vs. Learning Objectives
Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) or terminal learning outcomes or course goals help guide the creation of course content, activities, and assessments, ensuring all activities and knowledge align with the desired outcome by the end of the course.
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Learning Objectives or enabling objectives or module/weekly/unit-level learning objectives (MLOs, WLOs, ULOs) provide breakdowns of the course outcomes into manageable components.
Terminal
These outcomes are broad and require multiple modules or lessons to achieve. They define what knowledge, skills, or abilities that learners are expected to achieve by the end of the course. A couple examples are:
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By the end of this course, learners will design a vegetable garden layout for a limited residential space.
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Learners will construct a diversified long-term investment strategy based on a business profile.
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Enabling Objs
These learning objectives serve as building blocks or stepping stones that provide learners with an overview, direction, and purpose of the module/weekly/unit (MLOs/WLOs/ULOs). Examples include:
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By the end of this module, learners will be able to demonstrate proper architectural planning.
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Learners will explain the difference between a short-term and long-term investment.
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Bloom's Taxonomy
Bloom's Taxonomy provides IDs an essential structure required to develop measurable and effective learning objectives. Initially developed by Benjamin Bloom in the 1950s and later revamped in the early 2000s by a group of cognitive scientists, it focuses on active verbs and cognitive processes that align content with specific levels of learner performance. This hierarchy organizes cognitive engagement into six stages, including:
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Remembering: learners will demonstrate knowledge or skillset by recalling information.
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Understanding: learners will explain information to demonstrate their gained knowledge.
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Applying: learners use their knowledge to solve problems and successfully complete tasks.
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Analyzing: learners use critical thinking skills to break down information.
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Evaluating: learners assess viewpoints to make educational judgements.
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Creating: learners will demonstrate new ideas to solve problems or create new knowledge.
References
Simplilearn. (2021, August 31). Bloom's taxonomy in 5 minutes | Blooms taxonomy explained | What is Bloom's taxonomy? | Simplilearn [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/NjOa6l4GFJA?si=9xbevi2cpcvfMGPO
University of Maryland Global Campus. (2024). Bloom’s taxonomy – overview. Brightspace.
University of Maryland Global Campus. (2024). Course learning outcomes (CLOs) with examples. Brightspace.
University of Maryland Global Campus. (2024). Course learning outcomes (terminal) vs. learning objectives (enabling). Brightspace.
University of Maryland Global Campus. (2024). Learning (enabling) objectives with examples. Brightspace.