Every instructor wants students to achieve the learning outcomes for their course. To make this happen assessments must help students retrieve the knowledge and practice the skills that are relevant to those outcomes and the learning activities must prepare students for these assessments. That is why it is crucial to start with learning outcomes. We call this method Backward Design.
Here is an example of how backward design works. This shows why starting with the learning outcomes is crucial.
For more information on Backward Design please visit the section of this guide called Backward Design for Learning.