The structure of learning outcomes can be understood through various models, with one prominent example being the Structure of Observed Learning Outcomes (SOLO) taxonomy. This model provides a framework for classifying the complexity of students' understanding.
Understanding Learning Outcomes Structure
Learning outcomes specify what a student should know or be able to do upon completing a learning experience. While the content of outcomes varies widely, their structure or complexity can be categorized. The SOLO taxonomy, proposed by John B. Biggs and Kevin F. Collis, is a model designed specifically to describe levels of increasing complexity in students' understanding of subjects, offering a way to structure the evaluation or description of these outcomes based on the depth of processing required.
As noted in the reference, the Structure of Observed Learning Outcomes (SOLO) taxonomy is a model that describes levels of increasing complexity in students' understanding of subjects. It was proposed by John B. Biggs and Kevin F. Collis.
The SOLO Taxonomy Structure
The SOLO taxonomy outlines five levels of understanding, moving from a superficial grasp to a deeper, more generalized comprehension. These levels provide a structure for assessing learning outcomes and designing activities that encourage progress through complexity.
Here are the levels of the SOLO taxonomy:
- Prestructural: The student has not yet grasped the concept or is operating outside the scope of the task. There is little or no understanding.
- Unistructural: The student focuses on only one relevant aspect of the subject or task. Understanding is isolated and simple.
- Multistructural: The student focuses on several relevant independent aspects. There are multiple ideas, but they are not integrated or related to each other.
- Relational: The student integrates several relevant aspects into a coherent whole. Connections are made, and the parts relate to the whole concept.
- Extended Abstract: The student generalizes the integrated understanding to new areas or makes predictions. The understanding is extended beyond the provided information.
These levels represent a hierarchical structure where each subsequent level builds upon the previous one, demonstrating a more sophisticated and connected understanding of the subject matter.
Practical Applications
Understanding this structure helps educators:
- Design better assessments: Create tasks that target specific levels of complexity.
- Write clearer learning outcomes: Articulate the expected depth of understanding.
- Plan teaching activities: Sequence learning experiences to guide students towards higher levels.
- Provide targeted feedback: Help students understand how to deepen their learning.
By focusing on these levels of observed understanding, educators can gain insight into the qualitative differences in how students learn and express their knowledge, thereby structuring learning experiences more effectively.
