Learning outcomes at study programme and course level

8. Questions and suggestions for reflection

Self-assessment questions

1. What is the definition of learning outcomes according to ESG (2015), and what does it aim to emphasise?

2. What is the main difference between learning outcomes at the study programme level and the course level?

3. Explain the concept of vertical alignment of learning outcomes and why it is important.

4. What does horizontal (constructive) alignment mean and what are its key elements?

5. Briefly explain the difference between various approaches to determining the weights of learning outcomes (simple, standard, complicated, complex).

Suggestions for reflection

1. How are the learning outcomes in your course currently aligned with the study programme learning outcomes?

2. Are there course learning outcomes that could be better aligned with the programme outcomes? How would you achieve this?

3. How do you currently determine the relative importance (weights) of learning outcomes? Could you apply any of the approaches described in the text?

4. Consider an example from your own course: Are the learning activities, teaching methods, and assessment methods aligned with the learning outcomes? Where do you see potential misalignments?

5. What specific changes would you introduce into the course design to achieve better constructive alignment?

6. Which data (e.g., from the learning management system) could you use to verify the actual implementation of constructive alignment during the semester?