1. Principles of Constructive Alignment
GSR 989—Philosophy and Practice of University Teaching
January 7th, 2014
Amelia Horsburgh
University of Saskatchewan—Creative Commons License

2. Today’s Class Schedule
2:30-2:40
Discuss TransformUs & Philosophy Statements
2:40-3:30
Principles of Constructive Alignment
3:30-3:40
Break (please pickup your Teaching Philosophy Statements from the folder)
3:40-4:30
Brainstorming Community Engaged Learning Project with Lisa Erickson and Omeasoo Butt

3. Learning Objectives:
Define verbally the three elements of Constructive Alignment.
Appraise the appropriateness of alignment of sample Learning Objectives, Assessment & Evaluation Methods, and Teaching and Learning Strategies.
Propose some examples of Constructive Alignment for a class in which you are a lab instructor, a TA, or TL.

4. Knaack, L A practical handbook for educators: Designing learning opportunities. Whitby, ON: de Sitter Publications. 25.
Pre-Assessment:
There are three elements that make up Constructive Alignment:
Working independently, take two minutes to define these three elements in your notes.
Learning Objectives
Teaching and Learning Strategies
Assessment & Evaluation Methods
Learner

5. Pre-Assessment:
Working with a classmate, list in your notes three major points from the video Teaching Teaching & Understanding Understanding (3/3).

6. What are Learning Objectives?
This slide is taken from Rebekah Bennetch’s PowerPoint
(Oct. 28th 2013)

7. Examples of Learning Objectives:
Knaack, L A practical handbook for educators: Designing learning opportunities. Whitby, ON: de Sitter Publications
Examples of Learning Objectives:
There are three parts to a well written learning objective: Performance, Condition, and Criteria.
What do you think of these examples: By the end of today’s class, SWBAT…
“Identify primary and secondary sources of evidence in a written report or paper”
“know all about biology and have an appreciation for how it impacts their lives”

8. What are Assessment & Evaluation Methods?
Knaack, L A practical handbook for educators: Designing learning opportunities. Whitby, ON: de Sitter Publications. 36.
What are Assessment & Evaluation Methods?
Assessment (formative or summative)
Informal assessment of learning
No marks or grades
Evaluation (formative or summative)
Formal assessment of learning
Usually associated with marks or grades
Something to look forward to:
On January 14th and 21st we will be discussing in greater detail Assessment and Evaluation

9. What are Teaching & Learning Strategies?
Teaching strategies are used by the instructor to create learning opportunities in the classroom
Learning strategies are the tasks used by the learners to acquire knowledge
What are some examples of either teaching or learning strategies we’ve used in this class?

10. Constructive Alignment
Learning Objectives
Assessment & Evaluation Methods
Teaching & Learning Strategies

11. Align Learning Objectives with Assessment & Evaluation Methods#1
Align Learning Objectives with Assessment & Evaluation Methods
Examples of Lower Levels of Learning:
recall, identify, describe, or explain
Assessment Method
Two Minute Memo
Evaluation Methods:
multiple choice, true/false, labelling, or short answer
Examples of Higher Levels of Learning:
construct, compose, assess, or create.
Assessment Method
Muddiest Point
Evaluation Methods:
essay, project, portfolio, blog, or prototype

12. Choose your Teaching & Learning Strategies#2
Direct Instruction
Individual Learning
Group Learning
Activity-focused
Problem Solving

13. Direct Instruction Strategies
The instructor is directing the learning:
Lecture
Demonstration
Guest Speaker
Positive benefits include:
You can get through a large amount of information
Effective if teaching large classes

14. Individual Learning Strategies
Students are work independently
Worksheets
Online Discussion Posts
Homework
Portfolio
Positive benefits include:
Some students prefer to learn and work on their own

15. Group Learning Strategies
Students are working collaboratively towards a common goal
Discussion session
Peer instruction
Group work
Positive benefits include:
Students teach and learn from one another
Engage in thoughtful working relationships

16. Activity-Focused Learning
Students are learning by doing
Experiment
Debate
Stations
Game
Positive benefits include:
Active learning
Interactive and rapport building

17. Problem Solving Strategies
Students are working to solve a problem
Brainstorming
Concept mapping
Problem-based learning
Positive benefits include:
Students would use higher levels of thinking skills
Could be based on authentic problems

18. Constructive Alignment—Your Turn!
Working independently, align a
Learning Objective
Assessment & Evaluation Method
Teaching & Learning Strategy
Share your Constructive Alignment with a classmate. Give feedback to one another.

19. Summary
Choose appropriate Teaching and Learning Strategies after determining your Learning Objectives and Assessment & Evaluation Methods

20. What, So What, Now What? WHAT: What did we learn today? SO WHAT:
Why is it important?
NOW WHAT:
Where do we go from here?