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Student Learning Outcomes

Step 1: Write an SLO

Before writing an SLO, ask yourself the following questions:

  • What are the major themes that run through your course?
  • What are the big "takeaways"?
  • What do you want your students to remember about your class 10 or 20 years from now?
  • What must you communicate to your students in order to walk away at the end of the semester feeling like you did your job?
  • The "core" question may well be, how does your class change a person's life? You might find that the answer points a straight line to one or more of the Core Competencies as LPC has defined them.

Now, to write an SLO, start with what you're already doing. Choose a paper, essay, exam, project or presentation that you already require students to do. Ask yourself exactly what skills or knowledge the assignment requires students to demonstrate; i.e. what is the purpose of the assignment?

Put that purpose into a statement that begins with the following phrase:

"By the end of the course, students should be able to. . ." do what?

Remember to use specific verbs from Bloom's Taxonomy (PDF).

View actual SLOs written by LPC faculty.

This part is optional: Download and save the Assessment Plan and Report document, then input your SLO under Intended Outcomes.

Proceed to Step 2: Prepare your assessment

Student Learning Outcomes

Richard Grow
SLO Committee Chair
925.424.1341

 

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Page last modified: August 11, 2011