Defining clear and measurable learning outcomes

6. Constructive Alignment Scenarios

Below are three constructive alignment scenarios that illustrate how to align a learning outcome, a learning activity, and an assessment across different courses and at various levels of Bloom’s taxonomy.

Checking Constructive Alignment – Three Key Questions

When designing each learning outcome, check whether:

1. the learning activity enables the student to do what the learning outcome requires
   (alignment between learning outcomes and learning activities);

2. the assessment measures exactly what is defined in the learning outcome
   (alignment between learning outcomes and assessment);

3. the assessment criteria are clearly communicated to students in advance
   (transparency and focus on achievement).