Course Learning Outcomes Assessment

Guidelines

Course learning outcomes are 2-6 statements about what instructors expect students to be able to do at the end of a course. These statements specify observable/measurable outcomes that students will achieve through the learning activities and assignments in the course.  Therefore, learning outcomes start with action verbs such as describe, identify, explain, analyze, evaluate, solve, etc. (see the table below).  Please note that learning outcomes should not simply describe topics of the course, list learning activities (e.g. write a paper), or use phrases such as “students will become aware” or “understand.”

If the course is a required or elective course in a major or graduate program of study, at least one of the course learning outcomes should be related to the Program Learning Outcomes in order to help students understand how the course fits into their program of study. To find the Program Learning Outcomes for your program, click here.

 

List of Action Verbs

Knowledge Comprehension Application Analysis Synthesis Evaluation
define
describe
examine
identify
indicate
know
label
list
match
name
outline
recall
recognize
record
relate
reproduce
restate
select
show
state
choose
cite
convert
defend
describe
detect
discuss
distinguish
estimate
explain
extend
generalize
give examples
identify
infer
locate
paraphrase
predict
recognize
rephrase
report
restate
select
summarize

act

administer
apply
change
collect
compute
construct
control
convert
demonstrate
derive
develop
diagram
discover
employ
estimate
facilitate
generalize
help
illustrate
implement
interpret
manipulate
modify
operate
perform
practice
predict
prepare
present
produce
provide
regulate
schedule
share
show
solve
use

analyze
appraise
assess
break down
calculate
categorize
classify
compare
contrast
debate
deduce
describe
detect
diagram
differentiate
discriminate
distinguish
elicit
examine
extrapolate
identify
illustrate
infer
inspect
question
recognize
reflect
relate
select
solve
sort
systematize
tabulate
test
adapt
arrange
articulate
assemble
collaborate
combine
communicate
compose
consolidate
construct
create
design
develop
devise
establish
explain
formulate
generate
incorporate
initiate
integrate
intervene
justify
manage
modify
organize
plan
predict
prepare
propose
reflect
relate
revise
summarize
synthesize
tell
write
appraise
assess
collaborate
compare
conclude
contrast
criticize
critique
describe
discriminate
estimate
evaluate
explain
interpret
judge
justify
measure
rate
reconsider
reflect
relate
summarize
support
validate
verify