Constructive Alignment and the SOLO Taxonomy: A Comparative Study of University Competences in Computer Science vs. Mathematics

Claus Brabrand, Bettina Dahl

    Research output: Conference Article in Proceeding or Book/Report chapterArticle in proceedingsResearchpeer-review

    Abstract

    In 2007, all Danish university syllabi were reformulated to explicitly state course objectives to comply with a new Danish national grading scale, which stipulated that grades were to be given based on how well students met explicit course objectives. This paper analyzes 550 syllabi from the science faculties at University of Aarhus, Denmark (AU) and the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) that had been rewritten to explicitly incorporate course objectives, interpreted as intended learning outcomes (ILOs), using the principles of Constructive Alignment and the SOLO Taxonomy. In this paper we explain and discuss these principles, give examples of how the new syllabi were constructed, and describe the process by which they were formed. We also explain and discuss the results of a comparative study comparing the competences of Computer Science with those of Mathematics (and classical Natural Sciences for a point of reference). In this study, we focus on what specific competences the respective departments primarily use.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationKoli Calling proceedings
    EditorsLister, Raymond, Simon
    Number of pages15
    PublisherAustralian Computer Society
    Publication date2008
    Pages3-17
    ISBN (Print)978-1-920682-69-9
    Publication statusPublished - 2008
    EventSeventh Baltic Sea Conference on Computing Education Research - Koli National Park, Finland
    Duration: 15 Nov 200718 Nov 2007

    Conference

    ConferenceSeventh Baltic Sea Conference on Computing Education Research
    Country/TerritoryFinland
    CityKoli National Park
    Period15/11/200718/11/2007

    Keywords

    • Course objectives
    • Constructive Alignment
    • SOLO Taxonomy
    • Intended learning outcomes (ILOs)
    • Competence comparison

    Cite this