2.2 Course Intended Outcomes

The college-approved Course Intended Outcomes (CIOs) must be included in the syllabus.

Points: 3 (Essential)

QM Alignment: 2.1, 2.3

Overview

The Course Intended Outcomes are the foundation for alignment in your course. Alignment here refers to how your module learning objectives align with your course intended outcomes (standard 2.3), and how your module learning content, activities, assignments, assessments, and technologies (standards 3.1, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 9.1).

A course cannot be peer-reviewed for quality if the course intended outcomes are not present.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Where should I put my course intended outcomes?
  • In the syllabus is just fine. If you wish, you might want to include them on a welcome page or course overview page in an orientation module, too, but that is your choice of course.
• How do I align/connect my module learning objectives with my course intended outcomes?
  • If you wish, you could label your course intended outcomes like CIO1, CIO2, etc. Then when listing your module learning objectives, put in parentheses after each one the course learning objectives that align with it.
• What if I have no control over my course intended outcomes, and they are not measurable/clear?
  • As you’ll learn in standard 2.3, it is important that your course and module learning outcomes are measurable. If there are any course intended outcomes which aren’t measurable, you could make sure your module learning objectives measurable, and perhaps notify your department about the issue.

Examples

Sample HCC Course Outcomes Alignment Mapping

• CO1: Utilize basic strategies of the writing process such as prewriting, outlining, drafting, and revising.   
• CO2: Apply Standard English conventions of grammar, mechanics, and syntax in writing. 
• CO3: Write essays with clear and well-developed introductions, specific thesis statements, relevant and unified body paragraphs, appropriate transitions, varied sentence structure, and effective conclusions.

Sample Module Level Learning Objectives Alignment Mapping

• MLO1 Complete a course introduction to identify course learning objectives, purpose, and key concepts associated with the writing process (CO1). 
• MLO2 Identify the grammar convention sentence fragments (CO2) by completing assigned readings, lectures and exercises. 
• MLO3 Illustrate descriptive writing principles (CO1, CO3) by completing a class discussion that features college-level writing (CO2.)