Writing learning outcomes is a critical part of designing (or redesigning) a course, especially an online course, but even the best objectives are completely useless if the course activities, assessments, and assignments don’t actually align to them. This can be hard to keep track of, however. Use this Learning Outcome Matrix developed by Dr. Christine Harrington to make sure all your activities align with objectives, and that all your objectives are assessed.
One of things I really like about this matrix is that it prompts the course designer to plan how the students are going to receive feedback on these activities. Online students thrive on frequent and thorough feedback. Feedback doesn’t always have to come via the instructor or even post-assessment. A study of this completed matrix might give a course designer insight into ways to switch up the form that feedback takes.