What is the most important reason why there should be constructive alignment of the components of the curriculum?

Why should assessments, learning objectives, and instructional strategies be aligned?

Assessments should reveal how well students have learned what we want them to learn while instruction ensures that they learn it. For this to occur, assessments, learning objectives, and instructional strategies need to be closely aligned so that they reinforce one another.

To ensure that these three components of your course are aligned, ask yourself the following questions:

Learning objectives: What do I want students to know how to do when they leave this course?
Assessments: What kinds of tasks will reveal whether students have achieved the learning objectives I have identified?
Instructional strategies: What kinds of activities in and out of class will reinforce my learning objectives and prepare students for assessments?

What if the components of a course are misaligned?

If assessments are misaligned with learning objectives or instructional strategies, it can undermine both student motivation and learning. Consider these two scenarios:

Your objective is for students to learn to apply analytical skills, but your assessment measures only factual recall. Consequently, students hone their analytical skills and are frustrated that the exam does not measure what they learned.

Your assessment measures students’ ability to compare and critique the arguments of different authors, but your instructional strategies focus entirely on summarizing the arguments of different authors. Consequently, students do not learn or practice the skills of comparison and evaluation that will be assessed.

What do well-aligned assessments look like?

This table presents examples of the kinds of activities that can be used to assess different types of learning objectives (adapted from the revised Bloom’s Taxonomy).

Type of learning objectiveExamples of appropriate assessments

Recall Recognize Identify	Objective test items such as fill-in-the-blank, matching, labeling, or multiple-choice questions that require students to: recall or recognize terms, facts, and concepts
Interpret Exemplify Classify Summarize Infer Compare Explain	Activities such as papers, exams, problem sets, class discussions, or concept maps that require students to: summarize readings, films, or speeches compare and contrast two or more theories, events, or processes classify or categorize cases, elements, or events using established criteria paraphrase documents or speeches find or identify examples or illustrations of a concept or principle
Apply Execute Implement	Activities such as problem sets, performances, labs, prototyping, or simulations that require students to: use procedures to solve or complete familiar or unfamiliar tasks determine which procedure(s) are most appropriate for a given task
Analyze Differentiate Organize Attribute	Activities such as case studies, critiques, labs, papers, projects, debates, or concept maps that require students to: discriminate or select relevant and irrelevant parts determine how elements function together determine bias, values, or underlying intent in presented material
Evaluate Check Critique Assess	Activities such as journals, diaries, critiques, problem sets, product reviews, or studies that require students to: test, monitor, judge, or critique readings, performances, or products against established criteria or standards
Create Generate Plan Produce Design	Activities such as research projects, musical compositions, performances, essays, business plans, website designs, or set designs that require students to: make, build, design or generate something new

This table does not list all possible examples of appropriate assessments. You can develop and use other assessments – just make sure that they align with your learning objectives and instructional strategies!

Curriculum alignment is the process in which educators across all levels (including BISD, TSC and UTB) formally evaluate a course or an educational program to address the changing needs of students and the workforce. Teachers, educational advisers and program coordinators collaborate to develop the curriculum and ensure there are no gaps that may impede academic progress. Research on curriculum alignment shows a strong correlation to student achievement. It also helps to modify courses and programs to better target student postsecondary success and make better use of school resources. Curriculum alignment can also help reduce remediation and help students earn postsecondary credentials faster.

BISD and UTB/TSC aligned.

BISD teachers and UTB/TSC faculty established a collaborative working relationship in which they worked as equals in their field. In January 2012, 18 BISD teachers and 12 UTB/TSC faculty members began working together to fix curriculum gaps that prevent students from succeeding in their college careers. The first Curriculum Alignment Institute was successfully conducted in June and a second one in August.

Through these Curriculum Alignment Institutes, teachers and faculty have the chance to learn from each other, exchange ideas and stories about student challenges and successes as well as identifying gaps in the curriculum.

Full Curriculum Alignment Report coming up soon.

Curriculum alignment institutes.

Summer Institute August 13-15

The PPS Curriculum Alignment team from BISD and UTB/TSC introduced the newly aligned curriculum to science, math, English and social studies teachers.

Upcoming Institutes.

When enthusiastic and passionate educators meet, amazing things can happen. Stay tuned for more information about our upcoming Curriculum Alignment Institute in December.

What is the purpose of constructive alignment?

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 the importance of curriculum alignment?

Clear alignment helps students understand how various parts of the course fit together, which in turn helps them learn. Practice with feedback: Students need multiple opportunities to practice using the knowledge and skills they are learning, along with timely feedback.

Why is it important to align the three components of lesson plan?

Alignment between activities and assessments helps minimize wasted time as students are able to focus on skills geared towards the learning objectives. Instructors can ensure that the course objectives are clearly defined at the beginning of the program by providing a table for the module.

What are constructive alignment of the components of a lesson plan?

"Constructive alignment is a design for teaching in which what it is intended students should learn and how they should express their learning is clearly stated before teaching takes place.