Definition
The specific knowledge, skills, and behaviors a student is expected to demonstrate by the end of a lesson, course, or training program. In aviation instruction, desired learning outcomes are stated up front so both the instructor and the learner know exactly what the training is meant to achieve and how success will be measured.
Plain English
What the student should be able to know, do, or show by the end of the lesson. They are the goals the training is built around.
Context Anchor
Seen in instructor training, lesson planning, preflight briefings, ground lessons, and postflight reviews.
Why Pilots Care
They keep training focused so students build the exact abilities needed for safe and effective flight.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as just a general wish, such as “I hope the student improves.” A desired learning outcome is a clear, checkable result, such as “the student can explain the procedure” or “the student can perform the maneuver safely.”
Example Sentence 1
Before starting the lesson, the instructor reviewed the desired learning outcomes so the student knew exactly what skills they were expected to demonstrate by the end of the flight.
Example Sentence 2
After the flight, the student checked the desired learning outcomes to see which maneuvers still needed work.