Learning outcomes allow both the teacher and the student to collaborate on a learning roadmap, which increases student accountability and, often, achievement.
While the noun forms of the three words aim, objective, outcome and goal are often used synonymously, among professionals in organized education, the words aim and objective can be narrowly defined and are distinct from each other. An objective is a measurable, observable behavior of less than a day's duration; a goal is the outcome of a series of successfully completed objectives, possibly measured over a series of days; while an aim is an expression of a long-term purpose, usually over the course of one or more years.
Course Aims
In the context of an organized unit of education, such as a course module or course program, an aim is a (relatively) long term goal. Sometimes an aim sets a goal for the teacher to achieve in relation to the learners, sometimes course aims explicitly list long term goals for the learner and at other times there is a joint goal for the teacher and learner to achieve together. While the aim may be phrased as a goal for the teacher within the scope of the course it can also imply goals for the learner beyond the duration of the course.
Example: The Nutrition and Dietetics program aims to develop competent practicing Allied Health Professionals who are equipped with the skills, knowledge, understanding and attitude necessary to be effective practitioners in the 21st century.
The goal which is explicitly expressed here is owned by the teachers and its scope lies within the duration of the course but that goal is determined by the learner's personal goal to become a successful dietitian, the scope of which lies beyond the course. The latter aim is strongly implied by the stated course aim.
Example: [To] provide opportunities for students to develop a wide range of intellectual and other skills transferable to many jobs and professions.
This explicitly sets a goal for teaching staff which they will try to achieve by the end of the course but implies that teachers will consider carefully the longer term goals of learners in all their diversity (i.e.: the aim is both time-bound and forward looking).
Course Objectives
Unlike a course aim, an objective is a (relatively) shorter term goal which successful learners will achieve within the scope of the course itself. Objectives are often worded in course documentation in a way that explains to learners what they should try to achieve as they learn.
The use of objective as a noun and as an adjective is a source of potential confusion especially when the adjective objective is applied to assessment. The noun is used in the sense of goal while the adjective is used in the sense of independent of personal judgment. Thus objective assessment and assessment of objectives have entirely different meanings. Although the achievement of objectives is usually assessed this need not necessarily rely on objective assessment. Objectives can also be assessed via subjective assessment.
Learning Outcomes
Since both aim and objective are in common language synonymous with goal they are both suggestive of a form of goal-oriented education. For this reason some educational organizations use the term learning outcome since this term is inclusive of education in which learners strive to achieve goals but extends further to include other forms of education. For example, in Learning through play children are not made aware of specific goals but planned, beneficial outcomes result from the activity nevertheless.
Therefore the term learning outcome is replacing objective in some educational organizsations. In some organizations the term learning outcome is used in the part of a course description where aims are normally found. One can equate aims to intended learning outcomes and objectives to measured learning outcomes. A third category of learning outcome is the unintended learning outcome which would include beneficial outcomes that were neither planned nor sought but are simply observed.
Although terms like learning outcome, objective, and aims are often use interchangeable, it is important to note that many educational professionals make a distinction between the terms. Understanding the difference between these words can help teachers to positively shape and influence the educational experience in the classroom.