Constructive Alignment

Professor Smart explains the concept of constructive alignment (video provided in German)

Unfortunately, teaching and studying can be two very different things because lecturers usually design their courses based on the content to be taught, while students focus on the exam result.

However, there is an easy solution - at least at first glance: constructive alignment. The term describes a concept that brings together course objectives, teaching/learning activities and exam settings. Aligning the design and content of the exam with course objectives and teaching methods leads to the desired learning progress, as learning outcomes that students are intended to achieve are defined at an early stage.

The following questions must be taken into account:

  • What are the learning outcomes?
  • What type of exam is suitable to test if students have achieved the desired learning outcomes?
  • What teaching/learning strategies can be used to teach the course content?