The features within the Learning Outcomes tool have some overlap with the Competencies tool. While the ultimate objective is to retire the Competency tool in favor of the Learning Outcomes tool, there remain some functional areas that D2L is working to address in our roadmap. To determine which tool is most appropriate for your organization, it is important to understand both the use-case for each, and the features offered within (or coming soon) to each tool.
Each table indicates if the task is in the tools (indicated by Yes), not in the tool (indicated by No), or scheduled for development in a forthcoming update (indicated by Roadmap).
Alignment of outcomes to grade items
| Task |
Learning Outcomes tool |
Competencies tool |
|---|
| Assignments - Rubric criterion rows |
Yes |
Yes |
| Overall assignment |
Yes |
No |
| Overall rubric evaluation |
No |
Yes |
| Quiz questions |
Yes |
Yes |
| Random question sections/pools |
Yes |
Yes |
| Overall Quiz |
Roadmap |
Yes |
| Discussions - Rubric criterion rows |
Yes |
Yes |
| Overall Discussion topic |
Yes |
No |
| Grade book item - direct alignment |
Roadmap |
Yes |
| Grade book item - indirect alignment via rubric |
Yes |
No |
| Portfolio artifact |
Yes |
No |
| Content topics |
Yes |
Yes |
Assessment of outcomes in evaluation topics
| Task |
Learning Outcomes tool |
Competencies tool |
|---|
| Assignments (both directly and indirectly aligned) |
Yes |
Yes |
| Quizzes - Overall Quiz Score |
Roadmap |
Yes |
| Quizzes - Individual questions and question pools |
Yes |
Yes |
| Discussions (both directly and indirectly aligned) |
Yes |
Yes |
| Portfolio evidence |
Yes |
No |
| Group assignments and discussions |
Roadmap |
Yes |
Data and Reporting
| Task |
Learning Outcomes tool |
Competencies tool |
|---|
| Course level Brightspace data sets |
Yes |
Yes |
| CLOE (Course Learning Outcome Evaluation) Advanced data set |
Roadmap |
Yes |
| Course outcomes achievement dashboard |
Roadmap |
No |
| Course outcomes alignment dashboard |
Roadmap |
No |
| Mastery View Data Export (CSV) |
Roadmap |
N/A |
| Program level Brightspace data sets |
Roadmap |
No |
| Program outcomes achievement dashboard |
Roadmap |
No |
| Program outcomes alignment dashboard |
Roadmap |
No |
| Learner progress dashboard |
Roadmap |
No |
Course Level Management
| Task |
Learning Outcomes tool |
Competencies tool |
|---|
| Import course outcomes from ASN (course level and program level) |
Yes |
No |
| Manually enter outcomes (course level and program level) |
Yes |
Yes |
| Import from CSV |
Roadmap |
No |
| Import using API |
Roadmap |
No |
| Import Program Outcomes to Course |
Yes |
Yes |
| Definition of Achieved |
Roadmap |
Yes |
| Student Overall Achievement |
Yes |
Yes |
| Student Outcomes Progress Page with demonstration of achievement |
Yes |
Yes |
| Release conditions based on outcome achievement |
Roadmap |
Yes |
| Aggregated Achievement within the course (in the outcome structure) |
Roadmap |
Yes |
Program Outcomes
| Task |
Learning Outcomes tool |
Competencies tool |
|---|
| Create/define a Program |
Yes |
Yes |
| Create/import Program Outcomes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Link courses to programs |
Roadmap |
Yes |
| Link Course Outcomes to Program Outcomes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Aggregate Achievement Data across courses to Program Outcomes |
Roadmap |
Yes |
| Program outcome achievements are based on course level achievements |
Roadmap |
Yes |
Other Items
| Task |
Learning Outcomes tool |
Competencies tool |
|---|
| Ability to integrate with 3rd party providers |
Roadmap |
No |
| Support for Release Conditions |
Roadmap |
Yes |
Migration Path
Once the development on Program Outcomes is complete, D2L will develop a migration path for existing competency clients to transition to the learning outcomes tool. The Competency tool will not move to the End of Life status until a migration utility is available to assist clients who use the Competency tool to migrate their courses to the Learning Outcomes Tool.
Considerations
If you are using the Rubrics tool, the Competency tool must be enabled in Organization Tools, even if it is not being used, in order for the Rubrics tool to work properly. Currently there is a hard-coded dependency between these two tools which will eventually be removed.
You can use both the Competency tool and the Learning Outcomes tool in the same organization at the same time; however, only one tool can be active in a given course offering. The evaluation and performance data remains separate in the Brightspace Data Sets.
Additional information
For more information about the difference between Competencies and Learning Outcomes, refer to About Learning Outcomes.