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Constructive alignment (Biggs & Tang) as a student-centered framework for aligning learning outcomes, teaching-and-learning activities, and assessment tasks

Design · All designs
Evidence · 1 claim (1 for) · 1 study (1 design), q2 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 1 claim rests on one study

Description

The study is underpinned by the theory of constructive alignment coined by Biggs and Tang, derived from constructivism and advocating active involvement in creating understanding. As the article states, "CA is a student-centered model focusing on what MPTs undertake and value about learning rather than what teacher educators accomplish", with teacher educators facilitating while pre-service teachers construct knowledge through classroom activities. Aligning a module involves establishing the outcomes to achieve, the activities to engage in, and the tasks measuring achievement, so that assessment tasks mirror learning outcomes and activities and tasks inform each other.

Design Implications

Context

Requirements

  • Learning outcomes in modules must be clear for successful assessment
  • Teacher educators must consider LOs and ATs from both sides when designing TLAs

Constraints

  • The article notes negative connotations persist, with CA sometimes applied top-down for quality assurance and criticized as abstract and lacking practical strategies

Target Learners

  • mathematics pre-service teachers in higher education

Learning Goals

  • specialized teaching competence in mathematics
  • integration of theory and practice in lesson planning and assessment

Claims

Examples

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Key Sources

  • Spangenberg, E. D. (2025). Constructive alignment of a mathematics methodology module. Instructional Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11251-025-09712-z
Page metadata
Field Value
type design
id constructive-alignment-biggs-tang-framework
title Constructive alignment (Biggs & Tang) as a student-centered framework for aligning learning outcomes, teaching-and-learning activities, and assessment tasks
description The study is underpinned by the theory of constructive alignment coined by Biggs and Tang, derived from constructivism and advocating active involvement in creating understanding.
status review
generated by process:settle-candidates on 2026-10-18
trust unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content
sources 1 — spangenberg-2025

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