Understanding ‘Learning Outcomes’
This 5 day course develops a deeper understanding of what the outcomes of education, across stages and subjects, ought to be.
How can outcomes of education be achieved through an accessible, clear and well-aligned pedagogy? This course builds familiarity with NCERT Learning Outcomes amd examines the genesis of how these outcomes can be realised in schools.
The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) in India has instituted an annual National Achievement Survey (NAS) in all states and Union Territories of India. These assessments are based on Learning Outcomes that were published by the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) in 2016. As a result, states are now showing a deep interest in understanding what learning outcomes mean and how they can be achieved. This opens up an opportunity for Azim Premji Foundation to discuss the need for learning outcomes in the larger context of aims of education.
Learning outcomes are critical for determining teaching methodologies, learning activities and assessment schemes for the successful transaction of the concepts in each subject. An in-depth understanding of the characteristics, benefits and challenges in transacting learning outcomes becomes crucial for teachers. We also think that an understanding of learning outcomes will help stakeholders and in particular, teacher educators organize better in-service programs for teachers and modify the existing teacher preparation programs that they are entrusted with.
Teacher educators working with the government and in government-aided and private teacher education institutions.
Participants will be able to
- Explore the inter-linkages between learning outcomes, curriculum and stage specific objectives across school subjects.
- Grow familiar with the meaning of learning outcomes, characteristics and distribution across school subjects.
- Relate learning outcomes with pedagogical processes and assessments.
Course outline
Pedagogy
- The course will be interactive with audio visual aids.
- Multiple readings used to stimulate discussions and introduce new perspectives.
- Solve worksheets of learning outcomes and response analysis to delve deeper into concepts..
- You will have an opportunity to demonstrate learnings in group presentations using charts and power-points.
| Day | Topic | Key questions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Learning outcome and curriculum | 1. What are learning outcomes? 2. Why are learning outcomes important? 3. What could be the challenges in attainment of learning outcomes? 4. What is the inter-relationship between curricular aims, syllabus, outcomes, pedagogy and assessment? |
| 2 | Stage specific objectives, learning outcomes, pedagogical processes of different school subjects | 1. What is the aim of teaching different school subjects? 2. What are the stage specific objectives for each subject at the primary and upper primary level as suggested by NCF, 2005? 3. How is the suggested pedagogy connected to the aims and nature of the subject? |
| 3 | Purpose, Principles and Process of Assessment | 1. What is assessment? Why do we assess? 2. What are the paradigm shifts in assessment? 3. What are the different levels of cognitive abilities which need to be assessed? 4. What are the different modes of assessment? Why are multiple modes of assessment important? |
| 4 | Characteristics of good learning outcomes, deriving learning outcomes from learning objectives and constructively aligned teaching learning environment | 1. What are the key characteristics of good learning outcomes? 2. How are learning outcomes derived from learning objectives? 3. How are pedagogical process and assessments designed in alignment with the learning outcomes? |
| 5 | Utilising assessment findings for understanding student learning | 1. How does assessment help us in understanding student learning/progress in attainment of learning outcomes at the level of the teacher and at the level of the state? |