Planning for Alignment and Engagement
Getting Started with the Planning
In the previous modules you did quite a bit of high level thinking about planning your course. After establishing the overall course intent you saw how it provided a framework for determining learning outcomes. It became clear how the course intent and the learning outcomes aligned to provide a road map for what your expectations are for student learning. Now, it is time to roll up your sleeves and get going with the process.
Learning Outcomes vs. Learning Objectives
Before we go on, let's reflect a bit on the terminology. As you explore the literature on the topic of learning outcomes, you may see them also referred to as learning objectives. In fact, it is common to see the two terms used interchangeably. Without wanting to get too hung-up on definitions, in this course we will use the term 'learning objectives' as
statements of student learning that identify the desired learning outcome by describing what learners will realistically be able to do upon completion of a learning experience.
Learning Objectives and Planning
Determining learning objectives after determining the course intent is the first step in planning your course. The learning objectives not only help you with planning your course, they also help learners as they work through the course.
Therefore, it is worth spending some time crafting effective learning objectives from the outset. Educators worldwide use Bloom's Taxonomy as a frame of reference for developing effective learning objectives.