How many SLOs, really?

How many SLOs (Student Learning Outcomes) are enough? Answers from three sources:

Academic Assessment
Morningside College, Sioux City, Iowa
Writing Student Learning Outcomes
A total of five to seven student learning outcomes is typical. The number of student learning outcomes a program has is not as important as the number of student learning outcomes the program is trying to assess in any one year.


Assessment web page
University of Rhode Island, Kingston
Student Learning Outcomes 101
Three to five may be plenty!

Learning Assessment Committee
Laney College, Oakland, California
How to Write Student Learning Outcomes
There should be 3-8 SLOs for each class or program. When in doubt, fewer is better.

© 2009 Mary Bold, PhD, CFLE. Email contact: bold[AT]marybold.com. The content of this blog or related web sites created by Mary Bold (www.marybold.com, www.boldproductions.com, College Intern Blog) is not under any circumstances to be regarded as legal or professional advice. Bold is the co-author of Reflections: Preparing for your Practicum or Internship, geared to college interns in the child, education, and family fields. She is a consultant and speaker on assessment, distance learning, and technology.