Expressive Outcomes

Learning Objectives

By the end of this module you will be able to

1. Explain what an expressive outcome is, and how it is different from a learning objective
2. Write expressive outcomes for your own discipline, with the necessary elements included.
3. Decide when you might want to use either Learning objectives or Expressive outcome

Read

Some people feel that behaviorally focused learning objectives are too narrow and limiting. A number of different approaches are available - and one of these are “expressive outcomes.” These are still statements of intent and planning, but instead of describing specific intended “resulting behaviors”, expressive outcomes describe an educational encounter. (Eisner 1967) Some sample Expressive Outcomes include:

• Provide a critical reading of Dante’s Inferno
• Paint a landscape using watercolors
• Generate a sample research proposal

Expressive outcomes still detail behaviors - but the resulting behaviors are more open ended, and do not necessarily start with clear criteria and conditions, as learning objectives do.

“In this context the mode of evaluation is similar to aesthetic criticism: that is, the critic appraises a product, examines its qualities and import, but does not direct the artist toward the painting of a specific type of picture. The critic’s subject matter is the work done - he does not prescribe a blueprint for its construction.” (Eisner 1967)

Expressive outcomes may be useful for providing direction in situations that are intended to be more creative and open-ended. They do not preclude evaluation, but evaluation is not done through a comparison to an ideal model or template.

Analyze

Analyze the sample Expressive Outcomes above (repeated here). Each outcome will contain:

• An action verb
• A means of expression or documentation (may be implicit in the verb)
• A context or encounter

Read the following outcomes, and identify the factors above (for yourself). The answers are revealed in the next section.

• Provide a written critical reading of Dante’s Inferno
• Paint a landscape using watercolors
• Generate a sample research proposal for a project in your discipline

Answers to Previous Exercise

Previous expressive outcomes are:

Provide a critical reading of Dante’s Inferno

• Action - Provide a… Critical Reading
• Documentation - written
• Context or Encounter - Dante’s Inferno

Paint a landscape using watercolors

• Action - paint… using watercolors
• Documentation - Implicit - in the painting
• Context or Encounter - landscape, watercolors

Generate a sample research proposal for a project in your discipline

• Action - Generate
• Document - The research proposal
• Context or Encounter - (project in) your discipline

Evaluate & Create

Given what you now know about expressive outcomes and learning objectives, what are the relative advantages and disadvantages of both? Think about your own mini-lessons, and whether expressive outcomes fit your goals in that lesson. If so, you might consider planning your next mini-lesson using the CARD model.  

Bibliography & Further Info

Eisner, E. W. (1967). Instructional and expressive educational objectives: Their formulation and use in curriculum Retrieved from:http://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED028838 Links to an external site. For more information see pages 27-30 of your ISW Manual.

Note that the ISW manual calls the components "Context, Learning Event/Activity, and Reflection." Also see p 49. of your manual for an alternate lesson planning model (CARD) that uses expressive outcomes, but note expressive outcomes can also be used with the BOPPPS (lesson basics) model.