What is constructive alignment in assessment of learning?
What is constructive alignment and how does this guide our design and delivery practice? Read this short article to find out more.  Constructive alignmentConstructive alignment was first discussed by Professor John Biggs as a strategy guiding the design of programmes of learning. It focuses on the teaching and learning activities, intended learning outcomes (ILOs) and the assessments that relate to these ILOs. Constructive alignment draws on two areas of learning: constructivism (the concept of learners constructing their knowledge through learning activities) and alignment with defined ILOs. This approach requires teachers to ensure ILOs and the learning activities they are planning are deliberately aligned.
Constructive alignment requires teachers to be honest and fair with their learners. It’s also important to build trust with learners so they can be confident in their learning. “If we tell students that we want them to achieve something (ILOs) and then assess them against assessment criteria that do not match, they will feel cheated and will become cynical strategic surface learners.” (Houghton, 2004b). The model following demonstrates alignment between the ILOs, the learning activities and the assessment of learning.
How do we achieve this?In order to achieve and maintain constructive alignment, teachers should:
This article is from the free online Adult Education Essentials: Student-Centred Course DesignCreated by Our purpose is to transform access to education.We offer a diverse selection of courses from leading universities and cultural institutions from around the world. These are delivered one step at a time, and are accessible on mobile, tablet and desktop, so you can fit learning around your life. We believe learning should
be an enjoyable, social experience, so our courses offer the opportunity to discuss what you’re learning with others as you go, helping you make fresh discoveries and form new ideas. Learn more about how FutureLearn is transforming access to education Constructive alignment is a principle used for devising teaching and learning activities, and assessment tasks, that directly address the intended learning outcomes (ILOs) in a way not typically achieved in traditional lectures, tutorial classes and examinations.[1] Constructive alignment was devised by Professor John B. Biggs, and represents a marriage between a constructivist understanding of the nature of learning, and an aligned design for outcomes-based teaching education. Constructive alignment is the underpinning concept behind the current requirements for programme specification, declarations of learning outcomes (LOs) and assessment criteria, and the use of criterion based assessment. There are two basic concepts behind constructive alignment:
A branch of educational evaluation theory has emerged that focuses on constructive alignment as a key element in effective educational design. Known as design-focused evaluation,[2] this approach seeks student feedback on the efficacy of the designed alignment between the intended learning outcomes and the teaching and learning activities students engage in during a course of study. References[edit]
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What is constructive alignment in assessment?Constructive alignment is the practice of ensuring that intended learning outcomes for a course of study are effective, clear and purposeful and that learning activities, and assessment tasks are developed in alignment with these outcomes.
What is constructivist alignment?Constructive alignment (CA) is an outcomes-based approach to teaching in which the learning outcomes that students are intended to achieve are defined before teaching takes place.
How do you ensure constructive alignment in assessment?To be constructively aligned, ensure you do the following:. Clearly articulate learning outcomes.. Align your course learning activities to develop the learning outcomes.. Assess students at a level that is consistent with the learning outcomes provided AND the learning activities used.. Why is constructive alignment Important explain?A constructively aligned unit capitalises on the powerful effect of assessment on students' learning experiences. If assessment drives students' learning, then students are most likely to achieve our intended outcomes if the assessment is aligned with our intentions.
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