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Education Development Toolkit

Learning Design in Practice: Designing a coherent learning journey

Designing a coherent learning journey  

Why it matters 

A well-designed module helps students understand how learning activities, assessments and resources fit together throughout their studies. Providing a clear and structured learning journey reduces unnecessary confusion, supports engagement and helps students focus on achieving the intended learning outcomes. Thoughtful module design, clear communication and consistent organisation help create a more effective and inclusive learning experience. 

Practical tips 

  • Create a student-facing module map to show how topics, activities and assessments connect. 
  • Organise Learning Central content in a clear and consistent structure. 
  • Use a simple and predictable module layout to help students navigate learning resources. 
  • Clearly communicate what students should do before, during and after learning activities. 
  • Signpost connections between topics, assessments and previous learning. 
  • Focus on quality rather than quantity when selecting learning resources and activities. 
  • Share learning materials in advance where possible to support accessibility and preparation. 
  • Apply Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles by offering flexible ways for students to engage with activities, access resources and participate in learning. 
  • Use consistent communication methods and tools throughout the module. 
  • Regularly review your module from a student’s perspective to identify areas for improvement. 

Resource 

In this two minute video, Andre offers guidance on structuring a module including tips for creating an engaging and effective learning journey for your students.

Use the Learning Central Good Practice Guide to review and enhance your module in four key areas: 

  • Structure and Organisation 
  • Learning Materials 
  • Assessment and Feedback 
  • Module Communication
     

The guide provides both Essential and Enhanced practices to support a clear, accessible and engaging student experience. 

Reflect and apply 

Open the Learning Central Good Practice Guide and choose one of the four areas: Structure and Organisation, Learning Materials, Assessment and Feedback, or Module Communication. Review your module against the relevant checklist and identify one change that would make the learning experience clearer, more accessible or more engaging for students. 

Constructive Alignment in Practice: Bridging Outcomes, Activities, and Assessment 

Constructive alignment, a foundational framework developed by John Biggs, underpins effective learning design. It combines the idea that students actively build understanding through engagement with deliberate alignment between Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs), learning activities, and assessment tasks. When aligned effectively, every component of a module works together to guide students smoothly toward success. 

The Core Components of Constructive Alignment 

  1. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs): ILOs explicitly define what students should know, understand, and be able to do by the end of the learning journey. Using active verbs (such as analyse, synthesise, or evaluate) establishes the target cognitive level and guides both teaching design and student expectations. 
  2. Teaching and Learning Activities (TLAs): Learning activities must directly simulate or practice the cognitive processes specified in the ILOs. Rather than passively receiving content, students should engage in tasks that allow them to actively construct their knowledge. 
  3. Assessment Tasks and Criteria: Assessment methods measure how effectively students have met the ILOs. Whether formative or summative, assessment tasks should directly require students to demonstrate the target skills and knowledge under clear, criterion-referenced standards. 

Why Constructive Alignment Matters for the Learning Journey 

  • Promotes Deep Learning: When learning activities and assessments mirror the core outcomes, students are encouraged to engage deeply with material rather than adopting surface-level or purely strategic study tactics. 
  • Demystifies Expectations: Transparent alignment reduces ambiguity. Students can clearly see why they are completing specific tasks, how independent study connects to live sessions, and what is required to perform well in assessments. 
  • Ensures Equity and Coherence: Mismatches between what is taught and what is assessed create friction and disadvantage learners. Systematic alignment ensures that all students are provided with the scaffolded practice necessary to succeed before taking summative assessments. 

A useful summary of the key elements of Constructive Alignment from Queen Mary University.