Kerry Dobbins
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Neoliberal (economically) focused HE: why it reinforces performative learning outcomes
In a tweet last week I asked whether we should be focused on ‘learning outcomes’ or ‘outcomes for learners’. This was after I had read an interesting paper by William Buhrman (2011) who argued that ‘learning outcomes’ should be reframed as ‘outcomes for learners’. This latter phrasing, he suggested, goes beyond ‘what we want students to know about’ […]
Who are learning outcomes REALLY for?
Some people, who see learning outcomes more as accountability tools, may shout ‘MANAGERS’. Others, who espouse the student-centred notions of learning outcomes, will most probably shout ‘STUDENTS’. The literature would certainly suggest that these are the two main audiences for learning outcomes. But, if we take the most educationally ideal answer, i.e. ‘students’, are […]
Can learning outcomes support the broader purposes of higher education?
I was asked the question the other day: ‘Do you think it would be possible for a Medical course to have just one learning outcome?’ Interesting. What would this learning outcome be? ‘By the end of this course you (the student) will be a caring, compassionate, competent and safe doctor’. This question came from a […]
Learning outcomes in higher education: what’s being blogged?
Welcome to the first blog of the ‘Learning Outcomes’ project at the University of Leicester (UoL). Most people will be aware that there is currently much focus on developing, or further embedding, a learning outcomes approach in UK higher education (i.e. ‘By the end of this module, students will be able to…). This focus has […]
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