The core difference between learning intentions and learning outcomes lies in their focus: learning intentions state what students will learn, while learning outcomes describe what students will be able to do to demonstrate that learning.
Understanding these two concepts is fundamental to effective teaching and learning design. They help clarify the purpose of a lesson or unit for both the educator and the students.
Learning Intentions: The 'What' of Learning
According to the provided reference, Learning intentions (What will the students be learning?) articulate the specific knowledge, understanding, or skills that students are expected to acquire during a lesson or learning experience.
- Focus: The knowledge, skill, or understanding being taught.
- Purpose: To clearly state the learning goal for the students.
- Answers the question: "What will I learn today?"
- Example: We are learning to identify the main idea of a paragraph.
Learning intentions should be clear, concise, and shared with students at the beginning of a lesson. This helps learners focus on the specific target of their learning efforts.
Learning Outcomes (Success Criteria): The 'How' of Showing Learning
The reference defines Lesson outcomes/Success Criteria (What will the students be doing? How will the students demonstrate achievement?) as the ways students will show they have achieved the learning intention. They are observable and measurable actions or products.
- Focus: The observable actions or results that demonstrate learning.
- Purpose: To provide students with criteria for success and a way to measure their understanding.
- Answers the questions: "What will I do to show I've learned it?" and "How will I know if I've been successful?"
- Example: I can highlight the topic sentence in a paragraph and explain in my own words what the paragraph is mostly about.
Learning outcomes, often expressed as success criteria, make the expected level of performance explicit. They guide students in monitoring their own progress and inform assessment.
Key Differences at a Glance
Here's a summary table highlighting the distinction:
| Feature | Learning Intention | Learning Outcome / Success Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| What it describes | What the student will learn/understand. | What the student will do to demonstrate learning. |
| Core Question | What will the students be learning? | What will the students be doing? How will they show achievement? |
| Focus | The internal learning process/acquisition. | The external demonstration/product of learning. |
| Role for Students | Understand the learning target. | Understand how to prove they've met the target. |
| Measurability | Less directly measurable (focus is on acquisition). | Directly measurable/observable (focus is on demonstration). |
Why Both Are Important
Both learning intentions and learning outcomes are crucial for effective teaching and learning.
- Clarity: They provide clarity for both teachers and students about the purpose and expected results of a lesson.
- Focus: They help keep the lesson focused on the intended learning goals.
- Assessment: Outcomes/Success criteria provide a roadmap for assessment, ensuring that evaluation aligns with what was taught and intended to be learned.
- Student Agency: Sharing intentions and outcomes empowers students to take ownership of their learning, understanding what is expected and how they can achieve it.
Think of it like a journey: The learning intention is the destination you are aiming for (e.g., learning how to bake a cake), and the learning outcome (success criteria) is how you will know you've arrived and been successful (e.g., produce a fully baked, edible cake that follows the recipe).
