Constructive Alignment Project
"When there is alignment between what we want, how we teach and how we assess... students are entrapped in a web of consistency, optimising the likelihood that they will engage the appropriate learning activities, but paradoxically leaving them free to construct their knowledge their way." (Biggs, 2003: 27)
What is Constructive Alignment?
Constructive alignment is the idea that whenever we design and teach a new unit, subject or course, we should:
- Think about what we believe students should be able to do by the end (intended learning outcomes);
- Think about how we might assess those outcomes (assessment tasks and marking criteria);
- Look at what students need to know and understand in order to achieve those outcomes (concepts, practical skills, content);
- Design teaching/learning activities which will help students develop the understanding and skills they need to achieve intended learning outcomes (teaching/learning activities);
- Make the links between intended learning outcomes, assessment and learning activities clear to students.
The Unit Guide that students are given at the start of semester is designed to make explicit the intended learning objectives, learning outcomes, assessment and assessment criteria for a particular unit.
Project: Constructive Alignment in the Faculty of Law and Management
In 2007, the Faculty introduced a Unit Learning Guide template, which provides students with explicit information concerning the learning objectives, intended learning outcomes, learning activities, and subject materials.
In 2009, the Associate Dean (Academic), Faculty academic developers and School Directors of Teaching and Learning will undertake an audit of Unit Learning Guides and work with unit conveners and teaching staff to ensure that intended learning outcomes, assessment and learning activities are well aligned, and clearly communicated.
For further information about and support for developing unit curricula or writing Unit Learning Guides, contact one of the Faculty's academic development team, or the Director for Teaching and learning in your School:
Jeff Barnes (School of Law)
Geoffrey Durden (Graduate School of Management)
John Griffiths (Regional School of Business)
Lynne Leveson (School of Management)
Suzanne Salmon (School of Accounting)
John Shannon (School of Economics and Finance)