As museum educators and managers, our goal is to create impactful and memorable experiences for our visitors. Whether we’re designing tours, exhibitions, programs, or events, it’s crucial to start with clear and measurable learning outcomes. “Verbs for Significant Learning Outcomes” can guide us in articulating what we want our visitors to know, feel, or do as a result of their experience. Here’s how you can use this taxonomy to develop effective learning outcomes for your museum or historic site.

1. Start with the End in Mind

Before diving into the content, consider the ultimate goals of your tour, exhibition, or school program. What do you want your visitors to know, feel, or do? Are you aiming to increase their knowledge, change their attitudes, or develop new skills? By defining these goals upfront, you can ensure that your entire project aligns with your desired outcomes.

2. Choose the Right Category

“Verbs for Significant Learning Outcomes” is divided into six categories: Foundational Knowledge, Application, Integration, Human Dimension, Caring, and Learning How to Learn. Each category addresses different aspects of learning in ever-deepening levels:

• Foundational Knowledge: Focuses on understanding and remembering essential information.
• Application: Involves using knowledge and skills in practical situations.
• Integration: Encourages connecting and synthesizing ideas across disciplines.
• Human Dimension: Emphasizes personal growth, empathy, and interpersonal skills.
• Caring: Involves developing new feelings, interests, and values.
• Learning How to Learn: Focuses on developing self-directed learning skills.

Select the category that best aligns with your goals. For instance, if you want to deepen visitors’ understanding of a historical period, you might focus on Foundational Knowledge. If you want to encourage visitors to apply what they’ve learned, consider the Application category. Most museums confine their outcomes to the most basic levels (the “green” experiences) so take a risk and try to add one from the more ambitious levels (the “yellow” experiences).

3. Select Specific Verbs

“Verbs for Significant Learning Outcomes” lists common verbs that can help you articulate specific learning outcomes within each category. These verbs are action-oriented and measurable, making them ideal for creating clear objectives. For example, instead of setting a vague goal like “visitors will understand the Revolutionary War,” you could use verbs like “analyze,” “compare,” or “evaluate” to create more specific outcomes:

• “Visitors will identify three key events of the Revolutionary War.”
• “Visitors will compare the political and military strategies to gain independence in two different colonies.”
• “Visitors will evaluate the impact of the Revolutionary War on American identity.”

These specific verbs not only clarify what you want visitors to achieve but also provide a framework for assessing whether those outcomes have been met. More examples of outcomes here; an explanation of their development here.

4. Consider the Visitor Experience

Think about the visitor experience when developing learning outcomes. How will visitors engage with the content? What methods or formats will help them achieve the desired outcomes? For example, if one of your outcomes involves visitors reflecting on their own experiences, you might incorporate questions or a talk-back board in an exhibition that encourage personal reflection.

5. Balance Ambition and Achievability

Set ambitious goals that challenge visitors, but also ensure that most of your outcomes are achievable. Use “Verbs for Significant Learning Outcomes” to select a mix of outcomes—some that are readily attainable and others that push visitors to think more deeply or engage more actively. This balance helps cater to a diverse audience and ensures that all visitors leave with a meaningful experience. Adopt no more than five outcomes for a tour, program, or event and if you can, keep it to three to maintain focus and achieve success.

6. Assess and Refine

Once your program or exhibition is in place, use the specific verbs from “Verbs for Significant Learning Outcomes” to assess the effectiveness of your learning outcomes. Interview visitors, observe their interactions, and review any written or creative responses. This assessment will help you understand which outcomes were successfully achieved and where adjustments might be needed.

By using “Verbs for Significant Learning Outcomes” to develop clear, specific, and measurable learning outcomes, you can enhance the educational impact of your museum’s programs and exhibitions. This approach not only helps in creating meaningful experiences for visitors but also supports continuous improvement in your educational offerings.

For more information on implementing this taxonomy and creating engaging visitor experiences, please feel free to reach out or explore our additional resources. Let’s work together to make learning in museums not just informative, but transformative!