The definitions listed below are derived from those published by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Student Learning Outcomes: The particular levels of knowledge, skills and abilities (values) that a student has attained at the end (or as a result) of his or her engagement in a particular set of collegiate experiences. Student learning outcomes refer to competencies or attainment levels reached by students upon completion of an academic program.1
Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes: The process an institution or program uses to gather direct evidence about the attainment of student learning outcomes, engaged in for purposes of judging (and improving) overall instructional performance.2
Learning: particular levels of knowledge, skills, and abilities (values) that a student has attained at the end of engagement in a particular set of collegiate experiences
Knowledge: particular areas of disciplinary or professional content that students can recall, relate, and appropriately deploy
Skills: the learned capacity to perform tasks and duties
Attitudinal outcomes: changes in beliefs or development of certain values
Abilities: the integration of knowledge, skills, and attitudes in complex ways that require multiple elements of learning
Competencies: the specific levels of performance that students are expected to achieve
1 Adapted from Ewell, P.T., (2001). Accreditation and Student Learning Outcomes: A Proposed Point of Departure, Council on Higher Education Accreditation Washington D.C. pg 14
2 Adapted from Ewell, P.T., (2001). Accreditation and Student Learning Outcomes: A Proposed Point of Departure, Council on Higher Education Accreditation Washington D.C. pg 15