Learning Outcomes at Palm Beach State College

It is important that faculty know Palm Beach State College has learning outcomes at three levels: institutional learning outcomes, program learning outcomes, and course learning outcomes. Outcomes are developed by faculty and are published online. Web links are provided with the brief descriptions that follow.

Institutional Learning Outcomes

The current institutional learning outcomes (ILOs)¹³ were developed through a process of review and revision that began in 2017-2018, culminating with five ILOs (below) that became effective in Fall 2019. Each ILO is measured by a rubric developed by faculty and adapted from the AAC&U VALUE rubrics.¹⁴ The ILOs represent a broad scope of learning expected within the Associate in Arts degree, and the competencies described in the ILO rubrics map to the major areas of general education (Appendix I). Many ILOs are supported by other credit degree and PSAV programs.

Communication: Effectively articulate in written, oral, and nonverbal formats while responding to the needs of various audiences.
Critical Thinking: Apply evaluative, creative, and reflective thinking to form justifiable conclusions.
Information Literacy: Ethically and effectively locate, evaluate, and use information to create and share knowledge.
Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (S.T.E.M.): Employ a variety of quantitative or scientific methods or technology to analyze and apply information, design and evaluate processes, draw conclusions, and propose solutions related to S.T.E.M. content.
Socio-Cultural Understanding: Explore diverse socio-cultural perspectives, their influence on society and history, and demonstrate an understanding of social responsibility.

¹³Find ILOs and rubrics at www.palmbeachstate.edu/ire/CollegeEffectiveness/ilos-2018/default.aspx

¹⁴AAC&U is the Association of American Colleges and Universities; VALUE stands for Valid Assessment of Learning in Undergraduate Education (https://www.aacu.org/value/rubrics)