ABSTRACT
Strategic alignment and curricular alignment are foundational to a design plan and should be addressed when developing the overall goal for the instructional project. Learning outcomes are of great value to several audiences: to learners, to the instructional designer, and to stakeholders. Connectivist outcomes typically emphasize the connections that learners make between human and non-human resources, as well as their ability to identify accurate and sources of information. A common goal of educational endeavors today is fostering the development of life-long learners who can keep pace with a rapidly changing world. Autonomy and self-direction are two abilities considered essential to the life-long learner’s skill set. Both constructivist and connectivist pedagogical approaches seek to design learning experiences that scaffold autonomy and self-direction for individuals who are, or will soon be, responsible for their own learning. Learning outcomes provide the most benefit when learners are aware of them and understand that they are meant to provide direction for learning specific material.
