What is the link between instructional materials, objectives, and assessments?

 

It is very important for assessments to be aligned with the learning objectives and instructional materials because they all work together and support each other. Objectives and assessments are intertwined and both of these should be clarified before you begin to figure out what type of instructional materials you will use. While objectives state what is expected, assessment provides tools to determine whether the learning outcomes have been reached (Lamb, Annette, 2012-2014)."

Reasons your course should be aligned:

• First, alignment increases the probability that we will provide students with the opportunities to learn and practice the knowledge and skills that will be required on the various assessments we design.
• Second, when assessments and objectives are aligned, “good grades” are more likely to translate into “good learning” (Eberly, 2014)."

 In order for your course to be aligned you will need to make sure that the learning objective, assessments, and instructional strategies are aligned in your course. This is the only way that you will have effective learning in your course.

"A framework for reflection - The Triangle of Effective LearningBiggs (2003) argues that effective instruction is the result of the alignment of Learning Activities and Assessment with the intended Learning Outcomes or Objectives (Carey, Linda, 2014)."

 

When reflecting on your courses ask yourself these simple questions:

• "Do the learning outcomes flow from the previous session and do they progress students' knowledge, understanding and skills (Carey, Linda, 2014)?" Make sure that the students are taking away all the information that you wanted them to absorb from the course.
• Do the planned and enacted learning activities move students' learning towards the intended outcomes (Carey, Linda, 2014)?” You will have to think to yourself, what instructional materials can I provide that will strengthen the students’ knowledge of the learning objectives and get them ready for the assessments.
• Do the planned and enacted assessment activities allow students to demonstrate the knowledge, understanding and skills highlighted in the learning outcomes (Carey, Linda, 2014)?" It is important to create assessments that will showcase that the students attain the learning objectives that you set forth.

"If assessments are misaligned with learning objectives or instructional strategies, it can undermine both student motivation and learning (Eberly, 2014)." The student’s attention will most likely start to center their attention around whatever will direct them to obtain a good grade, which in fact they should be concentrating on learning what is critical.

References

Eberly Center, What is the difference between formative and summative assessment (2014). Carnegie Mellon. Retrieved from http://www.cmu.edu/teaching/assessment/basics/formative-summative.html

Lamb, Annette. Inforamtion Inquiry: Instructional Strategies for Library & Information Professionals (2012-2014). Retrieved from http://eduscapes.com/instruction/8.htm