What is the difference between the three levels of learning outcomes?

The schools and institutes are moving towards adapting education systems that are focused on skill development and outcome-based learning. Several schools have been implementing the new systems after understanding the drawbacks of the traditional ones, whereas many institutes are trying to bring changes in their ways of teaching over the past years. The faculty members of the school are trying their best to bring significant changes that are likely to impact the education system. But based on what references should the learning outcomes be evaluated?

Learning outcomes should be measured based on the skills, ability, knowledge, and values of the students. Learning outcomes helps the teachers and faculty members to make an ideal curriculum, learning programs, certifications, and ways of assessment, courses, and activities conducted in the institute which will help the students in setting measurable goals and expectations from themselves and achieve them.

The implementation of a learning management system helps the faculty to create the courses in the most efficient manner which will benefit the students and help them keep on track for the whole semester. Further, it will guide the students and make their work easier once they understand the study format and goals.

The best possible learning outcome that comes out of a student is the one that is closely about Bloom’s Taxonomy. Bloom’s Taxonomy is majorly focused on bringing out skills among the students and makes them lifelong learners.

You might be wondering, what are the learning outcomes that a learner should abide by, to attain the highest level of learning? 

Here are the 3 levels that should be followed by the students-

Level 1: Course Outcomes (COs) 

The course outcome majorly refers to the completing learning through the syllabus of the course in which the student has enrolled themselves. Here, the faculty expects the students to achieve the goals set by them. The goals are supposed to be fulfilled by the students to complete the course and to be ready for the next phase. In this, the student should be well versed with the concepts, formulas, and patterns of the course of the subject. Further, the student should be able to apply the knowledge and give solutions for the related problems. He or she should be able to answer the question with ease. The student should have a complete understanding of various aspects and subjects that are included in the course.

For example, if a student has enrolled for a coding course, by the end of the course, the student should know the concepts of languages learned in the course and must be able to apply them in writing programs and getting desired outputs.

Level 2: Program Outcomes (POs) and Program Specific Outcomes (PSOs)

Program Outcomes are the goals that are set by the faculty members for the students. These goals should be achieved to complete the degree or program. These goals can expect the students to write exams, perform practical applications, and build working projects or all together. This also includes the graduation courses completed by the students and then attempting exams for degrees and certifications. Some of the program outcomes also include internships.  

For example, if the student has enrolled in an engineering program in a field, the student should be able to prove his or her knowledge by performing practical and creating applications.

Level 3: Life-Long Learning

The main aim of academic education is to create individuals who are educated enough to contribute to the well-being of society. The way doctors treat patients with several diseases, and software engineers building applications and portals for better functioning of the businesses make people’s lives easier. 

People must remain lifelong learners to be able to update their knowledge and skills even after graduation and post-graduation. A software engineer graduate starts working on development projects in companies and must be able to plan and develop the design of the software with the help of the knowledge gained in college as well as through working on it for years. 

Conclusion-

The introduction of a learning management system in schools has helped the students and teachers to focus on the learning aspect in the education system for skill development and success. It eliminates all the unnecessary workloads and activities that are not helping the institute in achieving its goals. The rising awareness regarding the faults in the traditional education system among the teachers and parents is creating large opportunities for the growth of learning management systems.