← All articles

Program Outcome Templates

The Program Outcome Templates page allows administrators to create and manage templates that define program-level learning outcomes and map them to course objectives for accreditation and curriculum alignment.

Overview

Program outcome templates provide a structured way to:

  • Define program-level learning outcomes (POs)
  • Map program outcomes to course objectives (COs)
  • Create alignment between program goals and course-level learning
  • Support accreditation reporting and curriculum mapping

Key Concepts:

  • Program Outcome (PO): High-level learning outcome at the program level (e.g., "Demonstrate professional responsibility")
  • Course Objective (CO): Specific learning objective at the course level
  • Mapping: Connection between a program outcome and the course objectives that support it

Getting Started

Creating a New Template

  1. Navigate to Templates → Program Outcome Templates tab
  2. Click "Create Program Outcome Template" or "New Template"
  3. Enter a template name (required)
  4. Optionally select a Course Objective Template
  5. Start adding program outcomes

Note: The template is automatically created when you add the first program outcome.

Editing an Existing Template

  1. Navigate to Templates → Program Outcome Templates tab
  2. Click "Edit" on the template you want to modify
  3. Make your changes (auto-saves as you work)
  4. Click the floating Save button when done

Template Configuration

Template Name

  • Required field: Must be filled before adding outcomes
  • Auto-save: Saves automatically 1 second after you stop typing (in edit mode)
  • Examples: "Nursing Program Outcomes", "BSN Student Learning Outcomes"

Course Objective Template

  • Optional: Select a CO template to enable mapping
  • Purpose: Provides the list of course objectives you can map to
  • Auto-save: Saves automatically when changed (in edit mode)
  • Note: You must select a CO template before you can map program outcomes

Why Select a CO Template?

  • Enables mapping program outcomes to course objectives
  • Required for AI-powered mapping features
  • Provides context for curriculum alignment

Adding Program Outcomes

Method 1: Manual Entry

  1. Enter a Code (e.g., "PO1", "PO2", "SLO1")
  2. Enter a Description (brief description of the outcome)
  3. Click the "+" button to add
  4. The outcome is saved immediately (in edit mode)

Code Examples:

  • PO1, PO2, PO3
  • SLO1, SLO2, SLO3
  • PLO1, PLO2, PLO3

Description Examples:

  • "Demonstrate professional responsibility and accountability"
  • "Integrate knowledge from various disciplines"
  • "Engage in lifelong learning and professional development"

Method 2: Import from File

Import multiple program outcomes at once:

  1. Click "Import" → "Import items (.xlsx, .xls, .csv)"
  2. Select your file
  3. Outcomes are imported and saved automatically

File Format:

  • Required Column: code (or id)
  • Optional Column: description (or desc)
  • First row should be headers
  • Each subsequent row is a program outcome

Example CSV:

code,description
PO1,Demonstrate professional responsibility and accountability
PO2,Integrate knowledge from various disciplines
PO3,Engage in lifelong learning and professional development

Download Template:

  • Click "Download template (.xlsx)" to get a sample file
  • Use this as a starting point for your own imports

Mapping to Course Objectives

Manual Mapping

  1. Click "Map to course objectives..." on a program outcome
  2. A searchable popover opens with all course objectives from the selected CO template
  3. Search by code or description
  4. Click course objectives to select/deselect them
  5. Selected objectives are shown with a checkmark
  6. Mappings auto-save when you make changes

Mapping Features:

  • Search: Type to filter course objectives
  • Select All: Select all filtered results
  • Deselect All: Deselect all filtered results
  • Clear All: Remove all mappings for this outcome
  • Selection Count: Shows how many objectives are selected
  • Course Context: Each objective shows its course name and code

Best Practices:

  • Map each program outcome to 10-30 relevant course objectives
  • Focus on direct, explicit alignment
  • Be selective - not every course objective needs to map to every PO

AI-Powered Mapping

Requirements:

  • Pro plan subscription
  • Educator AI enabled for your institution
  • CO template must be selected

Individual AI Mapping:

  1. Click the sparkles icon (✨) next to a program outcome
  2. AI analyzes the outcome and suggests relevant course objectives
  3. Suggested mappings are automatically applied and saved
  4. You can still manually adjust the mappings

Batch AI Mapping:

  1. Click "AI Map All" button (top right)
  2. AI processes all unmapped program outcomes in one batch
  3. Mappings are automatically applied and saved
  4. A success message shows how many outcomes were mapped

How AI Mapping Works:

  • Analyzes program outcome descriptions
  • Reviews all available course objectives
  • Selects 10-30 most relevant objectives per outcome
  • Focuses on direct, explicit alignment
  • Prioritizes precision over broad inclusion

When to Use AI Mapping:

  • Starting a new template with many outcomes
  • Need quick initial mappings to refine later
  • Want suggestions for complex outcomes
  • Time-saving for large templates

After AI Mapping:

  • Review and refine the suggested mappings
  • Add or remove course objectives as needed
  • AI suggestions are a starting point, not final

Managing Program Outcomes

Editing Outcomes

  • Code: Click to edit, changes auto-save on blur
  • Description: Click to edit, changes auto-save on blur
  • Mappings: Click "Map to course objectives..." to modify

Auto-Save Behavior:

  • Changes save automatically 1 second after you stop typing
  • No need to manually save individual changes
  • Floating save button available for final save

Deleting Outcomes

  1. Click the trash icon on a program outcome
  2. The outcome is immediately removed
  3. All its mappings are also removed
  4. Changes are saved automatically (in edit mode)

Warning: Deleting an outcome also removes all its course objective mappings.

Auto-Save

The template uses automatic saving for most operations:

Auto-Saves:

  • Template name (1 second after typing stops)
  • CO template selection (immediately)
  • Program outcome code/description (1 second after blur)
  • Course objective mappings (immediately when changed)

Manual Save:

  • Floating Save button (bottom-right)
  • Use when you want to ensure all changes are saved
  • Shows spinner if auto-save is in progress

Visual Indicators:

  • Save button shows spinner during auto-save
  • No explicit "saved" notification (saves happen in background)
  • Changes persist even if you navigate away

Importing Outcomes

Import Process

  1. Click "Import" → "Import items (.xlsx, .xls, .csv)"
  2. Select your file
  3. System parses the file and imports outcomes
  4. Outcomes are saved to the database immediately
  5. You're redirected to edit mode (if creating new template)

File Requirements

Supported Formats:

  • Excel (.xlsx, .xls)
  • CSV (.csv)

Required Columns:

  • code (or id) - Program outcome code
  • description (or desc) - Optional description

File Structure:

code,description
PO1,Demonstrate professional responsibility
PO2,Integrate knowledge from various disciplines

Import Behavior:

  • If creating new template: Template is created, outcomes imported, you're redirected to edit page
  • If editing existing template: Outcomes are added to existing list

Best Practices

  1. Clear Naming: Use consistent code format (PO1, PO2, etc.)
  2. Descriptive Descriptions: Write clear, measurable outcome descriptions
  3. Selective Mapping: Map each PO to 10-30 most relevant COs
  4. Use AI as Starting Point: Let AI suggest mappings, then refine manually
  5. Regular Updates: Keep outcomes current with accreditation standards
  6. Documentation: Use descriptions to explain what each outcome means
  7. Review Mappings: Periodically review and refine course objective mappings

Mapping Strategy

Direct Alignment

Map program outcomes to course objectives that:

  • Directly address the outcome
  • Explicitly support the learning goal
  • Are measurable and assessable

Avoid Over-Mapping

  • Don't map every course objective to every program outcome
  • Focus on meaningful connections
  • Quality over quantity

Accreditation Considerations

  • Mappings are used for accreditation reporting
  • Precision is important
  • Document why outcomes map to specific objectives
  • Be prepared to justify mappings

Troubleshooting

Can't Map to Course Objectives

  • Verify a CO template is selected
  • Check that the CO template has course objectives
  • Ensure you have admin permissions
  • Refresh the page

AI Mapping Not Available

  • Check that you have Pro plan subscription
  • Verify Educator AI is enabled for your institution
  • Ensure a CO template is selected
  • Contact support if issues persist

Import Failed

  • Check file format matches requirements
  • Ensure "code" column exists (case-insensitive)
  • Verify file is not corrupted
  • Try downloading the template file first

Changes Not Saving

  • Check your internet connection
  • Verify you have admin permissions
  • Look for error messages in the console
  • Try manual save with the floating button

Mappings Disappear

  • Mappings auto-save when changed
  • Check that you didn't accidentally clear them
  • Verify the CO template is still selected
  • Refresh the page to reload from database

Related Features

  • Course Objective Templates: Create the CO templates used for mapping
  • Curriculum Mapping: Use PO templates for curriculum alignment
  • Accreditation Suite: Use PO templates for accreditation reporting
  • Skills Templates: Link skills to program outcomes