Course Alignment!

Image of an arrow striking a bullseye

Course alignment refers to how well your course meets the course learning outcomes set for the course. These outcomes can be found in the COCC college catalogue, and are set for each individual course. Every course at COCC should have assessments that align to these course outcomes to help ensure that students are getting the skills and knowledge they need from that particular course.

Outcomes and Objectives: What's the Difference?

At COCC, we use the term outcomes to describe most achievements related to student learning. The exception to this is when we talk about learning objectives, a term we use when talking specifically about how students master measurable tasks within the greater context of a course. In other words...

Outcomes	Objectives
Outcomes are the broad statement of expected learning from a course.	Objectives are specific, observable student behaviors that can be measured, and which contribute toward achieving the listed outcomes.

Another way of thinking about this is that learning outcomes are focused on the broader application and integrations of the concepts of the course content from the perspective of the student. Objectives are the mastery of tasks that contribute to the outcomes.

Example:

Program- Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD) 1-year certificate of completion (CC1)

Course- CIS 125A1 : AutoCAD 1

Program Outcomes	Course learning outcomes	Assignment Learning Objective
Integrate fundamental theoretical and conceptual considerations in design process and problem solving.	Identify and use drafting standards outlined by the American National Standards Institute.	Determine the length of each of the lettered distances below using the civil engineer's 10 scale.
Present professional demeanor and attitude individually and collectively as a team member.	Use Architectural, Engineering, and Metric scales for scaling and measurement.
Recognize and follow professional protocol for industry standards appropriate to course level.	Access AutoCAD commands using various software interfaces including Ribbons, Pull-Down Menus, Keyboard Commands and Function Keys.
Demonstrate cogent oral, written, drafting and computational skills appropriate to the course content and course level.	Set up and preserve drafting standards in templates.
	Proficiently use AutoCAD commands to draw and manage geometrical objects according to recognized standards.
	Demonstrate and use coordinate entry including Direct Distance entry, Absolute and Relative Cartesian Coordinate entry and relative Polar Coordinate entry.
	Effectively use Model Space and Layout Tabs for drawing and display.
	Plot/Print from Layout Tabs.

Here the learning objective is to determine the length of a certain distance using a specific tool. The course outcome is that students will practice using various scales for scaling and measurement. The program outcome is that students can 'recognize and follow professional protocol for industry standards'.

Meme image of a man connecting things with red string and the text: Outcomes? Objectives? Assessments? It's all connected!