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Improving Teaching through Triadic Course Alignment.

ABSTRACT: Triadic alignment is a pedagogical technique that instructors can use to improve their teaching and students' learning. It involves offering the course learning objectives, teaching and learning activities, and assessments at the same cognitive process level. Though it represents a best practice, few instructors have assessed the efficacy of triadic alignment. Previous research has demonstrated that General Biology courses are commonly misaligned relative to the objectives and assessments. However, little emphasis has been placed on assessing the teaching and learning activities as the third component of triadic alignment. In this article, we describe how a General Biology course was initially misaligned, the process that was taken to align it, and the improved student outcomes that resulted from triadic alignment. We expand our discussion to include types of misalignment and the benefits of triadic alignment for both the students and the faculty member.

SUBMITTER: Pape-Zambito DA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6195179 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Improving Teaching through Triadic Course Alignment.

Pape-Zambito Dana A DA Mostrom Alison M AM

Journal of microbiology & biology education 20181031 3

Triadic alignment is a pedagogical technique that instructors can use to improve their teaching and students' learning. It involves offering the course learning objectives, teaching and learning activities, and assessments at the same cognitive process level. Though it represents a best practice, few instructors have assessed the efficacy of triadic alignment. Previous research has demonstrated that General Biology courses are commonly misaligned relative to the objectives and assessments. Howev ...[more]

PMID: 30377466

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