Writing S.M.A.R.T Course Learning Outcomes
On November 27, 2021, Dr. Abdulwahid Al Zumor directed a training webinar for undergraduate and graduate programs within the Faculty of Languages and Translation. The event, titled 'Course Learning Outcomes', drew a crowd of approximately 55 course coordinators and instructors from various campuses.
Dr. Al Zumor initiated the webinar by stressing that Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) are the essence of a course specification. He underscored the necessity of aligning with the models provided in level 6 of the National Qualifications Framework for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (NQF-KSA), emphasizing their role as a crucial junction that bridges education and training with the practical and tangible demands of the labor market.
In his exploration of the knowledge/understanding, skills, and values learning domains, Dr. Al Zumor pointed out that values also encompass autonomy and responsibility. He stated, "Effective learning outcomes are student-centered, measurable, concise, meaningful, achievable, and outcome-based." To elucidate this, he presented examples of both well-crafted and inadequately structured CLOs, accentuating the importance of creating measurable CLOs, whether direct or indirect.
As he wrapped up his presentation, Dr. Al Zumor issued a call to action, urging the attendees to articulate the primary course objective from their perspective and to adopt a diverse range of assessments. For those unable to attend or wishing to revisit the session, a recording of the event was made available online.
