Learning+Outcomes

=Learning Outcomes =

"The constant collective inquiry into 'What is it we want our students to learn?' and 'How will we know when each student has learned it?' is a professional responsibility of every faculty member" (DuFour 46). It is important to start by answering these questions as a team. Once your team has decided on the "essential learning," the results can be posted the "Learning Outcomes" of your team's wikispace. Essential learning is defined as "The critical skills, knowledge, and dispositions each student must acquire as a result of each course, grade level, and unit of instruction. Essential learning may also be referred to as essential outcomes or power standards." DuFour __Learning by Doing__ p. 215

The following are some things for educators to consider when creating learning outcomes:

1. "The essential learning they establish must be aligned with state or provincial standards and district curriculum." 2. "The identified essential learning must ensure students are well prepared to demonstrate proficiency on state, provincial, district, and national assessments." 3. "The assessments created by the team must provide timely information on each student's proficiency so students who are struggling can be provided with additional time and support for learning. The assessment must also be sufficiently precise to ensure the team can ascertain the specific skills with which a particular student needs help." DuFour __Learning by Doing__ p. 46-47

Once established, a list of learning outcomes should be posted on this page of the team's wikispace as a resource. An Example of Learning Outcomes