Action verbs for intended learning outcomes

Language matters when writing Intended Learning Outcomes. The verb you use in an ILO is critical. This is not just ‘nit‐picking’ but is an essential principle because the verb indicates the type of learning required e.g. ‘list’ as opposed to ‘explain’.

All learning outcomes must:

• Use an active verb to describe a behaviour that demonstrates the student’s learning
• Contain information about the context for demonstration
• Be written in the future tense
• Use clear language easily understandable to students (it’s good practice to work with students to find a shared language).

The list of verbs below is adapted from: Winwood & Purvis (2015), How to Write Learning Outcomes, Sheffield Hallam University

Knowledge

This may cover

• the terminology of the subject
• criteria
• specific facts
• methodology
• conventions
• principles and generalisations
• trends and sequences
• theories and structures.
• classifications and categories

Some verbs which may help:

recall	reproduce	name	recount
record	define	outline	present
list	repeat	state	match

Comprehension

This covers what a learner understands through how they are able to convey it.

Some verbs which may help:

restate	locate	explain	report
identify	recognise	tell	review
discuss	express	clarify	translate
describe	interpret

Application

This covers the learner’s ability to use a theory or information in a new situation.

Some verbs which may help:

exemplify	dramatise	practise	employ
schedule	sketch	illustrate	interpret
operate	apply	act a role	use

Analysis

This covers the ability to break down material/ideas into constituent parts, showing how they relate to each other and how they are organised.

Some verbs which may help:

distinguish	inspect	compare	critique
differentiate	calculate	inventory	solve
investigate	test	experiment	examine
analyse	debate	contrast	analyse
appraise	relate	question	chart

Synthesise

This may include the ability to work with elements, parts of something and combine them in a way which constitutes a pattern, plan or structure which was not there before.

Some verbs which may help:

compose	assemble	derive	modify
synthesise	manage	propose	plam
develop	design	create	construct
arrange	set up	establish	forumlate
devise	build up	redefine	teach

Evaluate

This is the ability to construct an argument, compare opposing arguments, make judgements, and draw conclusions.

Some verbs which may help:

judge	evaluate	choose	revise
appraise	justify	estimate	challenge
score	rate	value	defend
select	assess	measure	discriminate
critique	compare	prioritise	draw conclusions