Student learning outcomes assessment: A component of program assessment

This is the second paper in a series on assessment that focuses on student learning outcomes assessment, a subcomponent of overall program assessment. Included are a brief history of outcome- based education and an overview of outcomes typologies. Definitions of outcomes, competencies, and objectives are presented, and distinctions between these categories are discussed. Various frameworks and models are presented to familiarize the reader with these concepts and the developmental levels of students in health professions educational programs. The paper places student learning outcomes assessment in context and highlights the steps typical of the associated process. Grading and classroom assessment techniques are discussed briefly to clarify their respective places in the assessment landscape. The paper concludes with a brief summary of the relationship of student learning outcomes assessment to institutional assessment.