Course SLOs (CSLOs)
At the course level, faculty create SLOs to explain to students and outside agencies what should be learned in a course. Faculty then use assessments to generate and collect information that can be used to evaluate their courses, with the overall goal of improving educational quality and student learning.
The SLOs for a course represent the learning expectations for the course. Knowing the learning outcomes can give students an idea as to what faculty believe is crucial for student learning in that course. As such, it is recommended that students find out what each course’s SLOs are and consider how best to approach the course.
Students can locate a course’s SLOs by reading the course syllabus, by asking their instructors, or by checking the course outline website.
The faculty who teach a course decide how to assess each SLO. Often faculty will use an assignment or a set of questions from quizzes or essays or exams that are already part of the course. SLO assessments are often given/taken on Canvas, and instructors will give students the necessary information to take the assessments at the right time.
Program SLOs (PSLOs)
Instructional programs are more than a collection of random courses. Each program prepares students for a goal, such as transfer to a university or entering the workforce, with a definite set of skills, knowledge, and attitudes.
Students typically have many time commitments, so they need to know exactly what they’ll learn, how they’ll be able to use that knowledge, and be assured that the investment they are making in their education is worth it. PSLOs help students understand the expertise they are expected to gain from each of LBCC’s instructional programs. Knowing what outcomes each program delivers may also help students make an informed choice about enrolling at LBCC. Every program’s SLOs are available in the College Catalog.
Instructional programs use and assess SLOs to ensure that LBCC delivers an engaging and relevant learning experience. Like course SLOs, PSLOs are expressed in statements of what students will be able to think, know, do, or feel because of a particular educational experience. However, unlike course SLOs, PSLOs define what students should learn by the time they complete a specific program. Instructors assess students’ demonstrated proficiency of PSLOs throughout their courses and sometimes during the final stages of a program. Faculty then analyze this information to improve our programs for students.
The PSLOs for each program of study represent the overall learning goals for that program. Knowing a program’s learning outcomes can give students an idea as to what faculty believe is crucial for student learning in a particular sequence of study. Thus, it is recommended that students find out what each program’s SLOs are and consider how best to approach the program in order to meet the expectations.