1. Creating Strong Learning Outcomes for Your eText
A house is only as strong as its foundation. Cut corners there and whole structure is
compromised. Similarly, in an eText, strong chapter-opening learning outcomes provide a solid
foundation for the chapter.
Learning outcomes provide clear learning goals for the student, letting her know what she will
be able to accomplish after completing the chapter. Each learning outcome should match with
the content of one H1 section (the content covered under the most prominent headings in the
chapter, sometimes called A-heads) and one section of the chapter’s summary.
The learning outcome tells the student what she’ll be able to do, the H1 section gives her all the
details she needs to do it, and the summary provides a quick recap of the main points.
Learning outcome  H1 content  Summary
In addition, strong learning outcomes lead to better chapter assessments. Most eTexts
incorporate H1 section-ending or chapter-ending quizzes to assess student learning. Strong
learning outcomes allow the assessment writer to develop questions that focus on the most
important concepts in the section, rather than quizzing students on trivia.
So, how do you write strong learning outcomes?
 Revisit your chapter’s outline and identify all the H1 headings (those headings you
would outline with Roman numerals)
 Create a short declarative sentence for each H1 that summarizes what the student will
be able to do after reading the relevant section
 Use observable, active verbs that capture something the student can do to prove she
mastered the content (for example: create, coordinate, identify, list, write, etc.). Avoid
verbs that ask students to do something you cannot observe (like “understand”)
Examples
H1 Heading Learning Outcome
Creating a Setting Conducive to Learning Create a classroomenvironment conducive
to academic achievement and students’
personal well-being.
Models of Substance Use Prevention and
Treatment
Compare and contrast models for the
prevention and treatment of substance use
disorders.
The Silent Epidemic: Police Stress Describe the causes and effects of stress in
policing and strategies for managing and
reducing stress.