Writing Postgraduate Programme Outcomes Dr Jacqueline Potter

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Writing Postgraduate Programme OutcomesDr
Jacqueline Potter Dr Ciara OFarrell
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AGENDA

• Review Learning Outcomes
• Activity 1 Analyzing programme outcomes
• Activity 2 The invisible graduate
• Activity 3 Sample programme outcomes
• Open discussion challenges and going forward

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Learning Outcomes

• Statements of what a student is expected to know,
  understand and/or be able to demonstrate after
  completion of a process of learning
• (ECTS Users/ Guide, 2005)
• Measure output competency-based

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Aims, Objectives, or Learning Outcomes?

• Aims Broad goals
• Objectives
• Measurable intentions
• Specific steps that take us towards those goals
• Teacher-focused

• Learning Outcomes
• Measurable achievements
• Result from a learning process
• Stated as achievements of the student

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Aim vs Learning outcome

• Aim
• In this programme students will be introduced to
  the subject of the core ethical principles in
  social work
• Learning Outcome
• By the end of the programme the learner will be
  able to critically apply the core ethical
  principles in social work in different case
  settings.

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Programme outcomes

• Articulate
• Knowledge and understanding needed
• Intellectual skills required to make use of
  knowledge and understanding
• Specify practical skills (competencies. eg lab
  skills)
• Generic/transferable skills (communication,
  problem solving etc)

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Categories of Outcomes

• Subject specific outcomes relate to subject
  discipline and knowledge/skills particular to it
• Generic/transferable skills/competencies relate
  to any/all disciplines (teamwork, problem-solving
  etc)

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• It is important to note that in Tuning
  competences are always linked with knowledge
  since it is understood that they cannot be
  developd without learning in some field of
  discipline.
• (Tuning Project, p42.)

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Sample programme outcome

• On successful completion of this programme,
  students will be able to
• Plan, evaluate and develop community-specific
  strategies for addressing international child
  health

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Map to

• TCD Institutional Level Descriptors
• NQAI framework of qualifications
• Subject benchmarks and/or professional body
  requirements (where necessary)

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10-level framework
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Taxonomies
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Local Global Use of Outcomes
programme outcomes professional body
requirements College award descriptors ,

• NQAI national award
• descriptors
• Bologna process of the European Higher Education
  Area

constructive alignment of module learning
outcomes teaching strategies assessment evaluation

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Covert vs Overt Outcomes

• Know
• Reflect
• Think critically
• Understand
• Appreciate

• Summarize
• Share reflections
• Interpret, analyze, evaluate, construct arguments
• Apply
• Discuss

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Writing Programme/Module Outcomes

• On successful completion of this programme,
  students should/will be able to
• On successful completion of this module/course,
  students should/will be able to

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Sample graduate attributes/competencies

• Sample Competency
• Problem solving
• Teamwork
• Research skills
• Writing/literacy skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Communication skills
• Ethical behaviour

• Sample Grad. Attribute
• The ability to employ techniques of analysis and
  enquiry
• The ability to employ originality and creativity
  in formulating and applying evidence-based
  arguments