Brainstorming Outcomes

If you do not already have satisfactory learning outcomes for your course, department, or program, here are some questions you might ask yourself and/or your colleagues to develop appropriate learning outcomes. Note that many of the questions overlap; the intent in including all of them is to increase the odds that one or more of them will be right for your particular situation.

  • What do we teach that is so important that students cannot afford to pass up courses in our discipline or interdisciplinary program?
  • What do we aim to accomplish in each course we teach?
  • What three (or four or x) things should all of our majors know 10 (or 5 or x) years after graduation?
  • What three (or four or x) things should all of our majors be able to do 10 (or 5 or x) years after graduation?
  • What three (or four or x) things should all of our minors know 10 (or 5 or x) years after graduation?
  • What three (or four or x) things should all of our minors be able to do 10 (or 5 or x) years after graduation?
  • What do we value the most about our discipline or interdisciplinary program?
  • What makes us get happy and excited when we think about our discipline or interdisciplinary program?
  • What does our disciplinary or interdisciplinary association think is most important for students to learn?
  • What do major authorities in our discipline or across our interdisciplinary connection think is most important for students to learn?
  • Why should students who won't major in our discipline or interdisciplinary program take courses in it anyway?
  • How do we want our students to be able to think and what do we want them to be able to do as a result of studying our discipline or interdisciplinary program?
  • How do we want our discipline or ID program to impact the lives of majors and other students who study it?
  • What are the most important things our majors need for success in their post-CC pursuits?
  • What are the most important things non-majors who take our courses need from us for success in their post-CC pursuits?
  • What qualities and capabilities do we strive to foster in our students?
  • What are the most important things a student gains from studying our discipline or interdisciplinary area?
  • How does studying our discipline or ID area change the way majors (and other students taking our classes) view themselves?
  • How does studying our discipline or ID area change the way majors (and other students taking our classes) look at the world?
  • How does studying our discipline or ID area contribute to the well-being of our majors (and other students taking our classes)?
  • How do people who study and/or teach our discipline or ID area differ from people in other academic areas with regard to skills, knowledge, and/or values?
Report an issue - Last updated: 04/14/2022