What is the purpose of instructional outcomes?

• A. Identify what students should know and be able to do
• B. Reflect teacher preferences
• C. List activities to fill time
• D. Describe classroom rules

Answer: (A)

Outcomes describe the intended learning results. They specify what students should know and be able to do after instruction, and they describe those targets in observable, measurable terms. When outcomes are clear, planning becomes focused—you select activities, materials, and pacing that help students reach those exact goals, and you design assessments that accurately show whether the goals were met. Clear outcomes also help students understand what success looks like and monitor their own progress.

The other options don’t focus on learning results. Outcomes shouldn’t reflect teacher preferences, they aren’t simply a list of activities to fill time, and they aren’t descriptions of classroom rules. They center on what students will know and be able to demonstrate.