2. Aims, Objectives and Graduate Attributes
This section includes a statement of broad aims for the course and specific learning objectives mapped to the UQ Graduate Attributes.
Some courses may also be required to map to a further set of professional attributes.
Refer to ITaLI's Course Development resources for non-technical guidance.
2.1 Course Aims - Technical Help
Suggested Content
This section should be used to make a broad statement of the course aims that leads into the more specific learning objectives in the following section.
Edit Course Aims
1. Click the Edit button next to the heading "Course Aims".
2. Add or edit the information for this section using the online editor field. Please refer to ECPS Online Editor for general formatting help.
3. Click Save.
2.2 Learning Objectives - Technical Help
Suggested Content
Most regular courses at the University have between 10 and 20 learning objectives. These learning objectives are at the core of the electronic Course Profile as they are mapped to the learning activities that allow students to develop them and the assessment tasks that measure their attainment.
When entering learning activities (lectures, tutorials, independent study etc) and assessment tasks you will be asked to select the learning objectives that you enter in this section that are related to the activity or task. When you enter a learning objective you will also be asked to select the related graduate attributes. It is this information that is used to produce the course learning summary and program graduate attribute maps automatically.
Add Learning Objectives
All learning objectives in the course profile should be written to complete the following sentence:
"After successfully completing this course you should be able to..."
To add a learning objective:
1. Click Add Objective next to the heading "2.2 Learning Objectives".
2. Write the learning objective in the text field.
3. Check any related "Graduate Attributes".
For example, if you were writing an objective on communication you would select all the related communication graduate attributes.
Note: You should ensure you are mapping to the appropriate set of attributes. There are four UQ sets: UG Pass, UG Honours, PG Coursework and PG Coursework with research content. See "Mapping Learning Objectives to Graduate Attributes" below for more information. You may also have a professional set of attributes.
4. Click Save.
Edit or Delete Objectives
To edit or delete an objective click the Edit icon (Red Pencil) or the Delete icon (Red Cross).
Move an Objective
You can change the order of the objective list by using the blue arrows icons.
Options for Laying Out Learning Objectives
The system allows you to list all your learning objectives in one group or to separate them into multiple groups under several sub-headings or topic headings.
Option 1: Single Group
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
1. list the qualities of a good learning objective
2. write a good learning objective
3. explain...
4. evaluate...
5. ...
6. ...
This option is the default option for the course profile.
Option 2: Multiple Groups
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
Write Objectives
1.1. list the qualities of a good learning objective
1.2. write a good learning objective
Use Objectives
2.1. explain...
2.1. ...
Evaluate Objectives
3.1. ...
3.2. ...
Group headings may relate to the type of learning objective, e.g. Skill, Knowledge or Attitude or the content area of the course e.g. Thermodynamics, Statics or Dynamics or even a period of the course, e.g. Weeks 1-7 or Weeks 8-13.
Add or Edit Groups
To add a group click Add Group next to the title "2.1 Learning Objectives". You can edit the group titles by clicking the Edit button next to the appropriate group. You cannot delete a group until you have deleted or moved all the objectives listed under it.
To add an objective to a group click Add Objective next to the title "2.1 Learning Objectives". When entering the objective, select the group you wish it to appear under from the drop-down menu.
Map Learning Objectives to Graduate Attributes
When entering a Learning Objective you will be asked to map to a set of UQ Graduate Attributes and possibly as set of professional attributes depending on the programs the course is taught in.
There are four sets of UQ Graduate Attributes:
- Undergraduate (Pass)
- Undergraduate (Honours)
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Postgraduate Coursework with Research Content
Before entering the Learning Objectives please ensure that appropriate set of attributes is selected for your course. You can check which set you have selected for your course in Section 2.3 Graduate Attributes. If you need to change the selection click the Change Set button.
To map the graduate attributes to the learning objectives, tick the appropriate attributes when entering each objective. You can select more than one attribute per objective.
Write Learning Objectives
All learning objectives in the course profile should be written to complete the following sentence:
"After successfully completing this course you should be able to..."
A "good" learning objective is clear and measurable and refers to a capability the student will be known to possess at the successful completion end of the course. Therefore the learning objective should detail a "demonstrable action", i.e. it should begin with a verb that is able to be measured. Such "action words" include list, explain, apply and evaluate. Verbs like know, learn, know and understand should be avoided as they are difficult to measure. Below is a list of useful verbs:
Knowledge
|
cite, count, define, describe, draw, enumerate, identify, index, indicate, label, list, match, meet, name, outline, point, quote, read, recall, recite, recognise, record, repeat, reproduce, review, select, state, study, tabulate, trace, write
|
Comprehension
|
add, approximate, articulate, associate, characterise, clarify, classify, compare, compute, contrast, contrast, convert, defend, demonstrate, detail, differentiate, discuss, distinguish, elaborate, estimate, example, explain, express, extend, extrapolate, factor, generalise, give, illustrate, infer, interact, interpolate, interpret, observe, paraphrase, picture graphically, predict, review, rewrite, subtract, summarise, translate, visualise |
Application
|
acquire, adapt, allocate, alphabetise, apply, ascertain, assign, attain, avoid, back-up, calculate, capture, change, classify, complete, compute, construct, customise, demonstrate, depreciate, derive, determine, diminish, discover, emphasise, employ examine, exercise, experience, explore, expose, express, factor, figure, graph, handle, illustrate, infer, convert, investigate, manipulate, modify, operate, personalise, plot, practice, predict, prepare, price, process, produce, project, protect, provide, relate, report, round off, schedule, sequence, show, simulate, sketch, solve, subscribe, tabulate, transcribe, translate, use, utilise |
Analysis
|
analyze, audit, blueprint, breadboard, breakdown, categorise, chart, classify, compare, confirm, contrast, correlate, detect, diagnose, diagram, differentiate, discriminate, dissect, distinguish, document, ensure, explain, explore, figure out, file, group, identify, illustrate, infer, interrupt, inventory, investigate, lay out, manage, maximise, optimise, order, organise, outline, point out, prioritise, proofread, query, relate, select, separate, size up, subdivide, summarise, survey, train, transform |
Synthesis
|
abstract, adapt, adjust, animate, arrange, assemble, build, categorise, change, choose, code, combine, compile, compose, construct, cope, correspond, create, cultivate, debug, delete, depict, design, develop, devise, dictate, discuss, elaborate, enhance, estimate, explain, facilitate, format, formulate, generalise, generate, handle, happen, imagine, import, improve, incorporate, integrate, interface, invent, join, lecture, make-up, minimise, model, modify, network, originate, outline, overhaul, plan portray, predict, prepare, prescribe, produce, program, propose, rearrange, reconstruct, refer, relate, reorganise, revise, rewrite, solve, solution, specify, summarise, suppose, test, theorise, write |
Evaluation
|
agree, appraise, assess, award, choose, chronicle, compare, conclude, contrast, counsel , criteria, criticise, critique, debate, decide, deduct, defend, determine, disprove, discriminate, dispute, estimate, evaluate, explain, grade, hire, influence, importance, interpret, judge, justify, mark, measure, opinion, perceive, predict, prescribe, prioritise, prove, rank, rate, recommend, rule on, release, score, select, summarise, support, test, validate, value, verify |
2.3 Graduate Attributes - Technical Help
UQ Graduate Attributes & Professional Attributes
This section is automatically completed from the information provided in Learning Objectives - Technical Help.
Additional Unit Level Information on Graduate Attributes
The Organisational Unit (usually a School) that is responsible for coordinating the course may choose to put additional information in this section on graduate attributes that will appear in ALL the Unit's Course Profiles. This information may include or refer students to specific program attributes. If this section is not utilised by the Unit it will not appear in the Course Profile.
Additional Course Information on Graduate Attributes
Suggested Content
This section may be used by the course coordinator to include any relevant information on graduate attributes not included in either of the above sections. Include information on program attributes from other Units or programs not directly coved by the Coordinating Unit.
Edit Additional Course Information on Graduate Attributes
1. Click the Edit button next to the heading "Additional Course Information on Graduate Attributes".
2. Add or edit the information for this section using the online editor field. Please refer to ECPS Online Editor for general formatting help.
3. Click Save.