Outcomes (or learning objectives) are statements that clearly describe what students will be able to know, do, or value as a result of their educational experience. Clear, effective learning outcomes help both instructors and students succeed!

For instructors, clear learning outcomes facilitate:

Making hard decisions about selecting course content
Designing assessments to evaluate student progress
Developing instructional activities that will facilitate student learning
Measuring and assessing student learning

For students, clear learning outcomes facilitate:

Making hard decisions about whether the course is a good fit for their goals and background
Identifying what the will need in order to be successful in the course
Developing the incremental skills necessary to achieve mastery of the course content
Measuring and assessing their own progress and learning

Understanding Bloom's Taxonomy

Writing Effective Outcomes

Brainstorm specific things what you want students to know and do by the end of the course. Include as many ideas as you'd like, and don't worry yet about form or language.
Refer to resources that can help you identify action verbs that will be observable and measurable. Bloom's Revised Taxonomy of Cognitive Levels can provide a useful framework for articulating learning goals. Lists of action verbs like the ones below can also help you brainstorm just the right language!
Draft your learning outcomes and then edit them to be sure they are:

- Student/Learner Focused: Do they identify actions done by the students, not by the instructors?
- Observable and Measurable: Do they identify actions that students can demonstrate for you to observe and measure?

Additional Resources

Sources about Bloom's Taxonomy (and Revised Taxonomy)

Bloom's Taxonomy, P. Armstrong, (2010), Center for Teaching, Vanderbilt University
Revised Bloom's Taxonomy, R. Heer, (2009), Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, Iowa State University
A Taxonomy for Learning, Teaching and Assessing: A Revision of Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives (Abridged Edition)

Tips on Writing Learning Outcomes

Setting Learning Outcomes, Center for Teaching Excellence, Cornell University.
Articulate Your Learning Objectives, Eberly Center for Teaching Excellence & Educational Innovation (2008), Carnegie Mellon University.
Writing Learning Objectives, Useful tips on revising learning objectives, with samples. University of Texas at Austin.
Writing Student Learning Outcomes for Course Syllabi, Center for University Teaching, Learning, and Assessment, University of West Florida.

Verbs and Vocabulary for Writing Learning Objectives

Bloom's Affective Domain, (action verbs for learning objectives in attitudinal change)
Bloom's Taxonomy of the Cognitive Domain, W. Huitt, (2004), Educational Psychology Interactive, Valdosta State Univ., GA.
Bloom's Taxonomy Blooms Digitally, Andrew Churches, (2008), Educators' eZine, Tech and Learning.
List of Measurable Verbs Used to Assess Learning Outcomes, Clinton Community College, SUNY.
Model of Learning Objectives, Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, Iowa State University.
Student Performance Verbs, Resources for Teaching, Office of Graduate Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.