Goals, Objectives, and Learning Outcomes

This video (4.41min) from Oakland University on Youtube is a great introduction that explains the difference outcomes vs objectives.

Highlights from the video:

Goals are the largest category, usually relating to the larger aims, such as critical thinking, transfer of content, or creativity!
We layout objectives within these goals as a map of actions we will need to achieve these goals and actions that instructors will need to take to achieve these goals.
If objectives are what an instructor puts into the course and plans for achieving the course goals, the learning outcomes are waht the learner actually produce. They explain what students will be able to do because of teh instruction, analysis or discussion. Instructors assess student learning through these outcomes, therefore learning outcomes must be measurable and observable.

In short, goals dictate the general aims of a course, project or activity. Objectives lay the plan for how these goals will be met or what the instructor will provide, and the learning outcomes exhibit what the learners actually do as a result of the activity.
Objectives are what is intended while learning outcomes are what is actually achieved (UConn).