A Learning Outcome is a precise statement that describes what a professional (typically an architect or specifier) will be able to do, understand, or evaluate after engaging with your technical content. Unlike a “learning objective,” which focuses on what the provider intends to cover, a learning outcome focuses on the result for the learner.
In the FRAKT framework, a learning outcome is the bridge between raw technical information and specification-ready intelligence. It is the “asymmetric payoff” for the architect’s time.
Architects suffer from a “very sophisticated allergy to boredom” and an even more acute allergy to wasted time. When a CPD or technical guide lacks clear learning outcomes, it creates cognitive friction. The brain, sensing a lack of direction, defaults to energy-saving mode (otherwise known as checking emails under the table).
By defining a learning outcome, you are signalling value. You are telling the architect: “By the end of this 45-minute interaction, your risk of making a specification error regarding U-values in high-rise timber construction will decrease by X percent.”
Real-World Application:
- The Poor Approach: “This CPD covers our new range of acoustic partitions.” (This is a feature list masquerading as a goal).
- The FRAKT Approach: “By the end of this session, specifiers will be able to diagnose common flanking transmission risks in multi-residential layouts and select the appropriate Decibel-reduction assembly to meet Revised Building Regulations.”
Case Study:
A leading façade manufacturer was struggling with low engagement in their “Innovation in Glass” seminar. The content was brilliant but felt like “lifting wet cardboard” because the goals were vague. We reframed their content around a central learning outcome: “Equipping architects to justify the aesthetic cost of triple glazing through the lens of long-term thermal performance data.” By shifting the focus from “look at our glass” to “how to win the argument with your client,” engagement increased because the perceived utility of the information skyrocketed.
