Alignment in the education sector refers to the extent to which various components of an education system can be integrated to achieve the main goals of an education system. Alignment makes sure that education systems are effective and students are taught the most appropriate material within specific periods. The main components of an education system which are brought together as a result of alignment are the education standards, the curricula, and the assessments (Case, Jorgensen, & Zucker, 2008). With the ever-increasing importance of alignment in the education sector, it is important to discuss the two main strategic alignment methods which are the Web Model and the Survey of Enacted Curriculum (SEC) Model.
The Web Model
Developed by Norman Web, the Web model is one of the most commonly used models of alignment in the education sector. The model’s criteria for alignment considers the applicability of the system, equity and fairness, pedagogical effects, content focus, and articulation across grades and ages (Case, Jorgensen, & Zucker, 2008). According to Case, Jorgensen, and Zucker (2008), content focus is mainly aimed at developing the knowledge of students concerning the subject matter. Articulation across grades and ages refers to the growth and change of a student's knowledge over a specific period. Evaluation and articulation must rely on research carried out to determine how students learn. Additionally, equity and fairness are concerned with the diversity of issues that might arise in student populations. The model further states that pedagogical implications deal with the major factors that affect the learning of students. Finally, system applicability ensures that the identified standards are aligned properly to enable interested parties to apply them in their daily activities effectively. The model can analyze four main aspects of an assessment's content focus which are a range of knowledge correspondence, depth of knowledge consistency, categorical congruence, and balanced representation. The application of the Web model requires a panel of four to six education specialists who are trained to identify the appropriate standards.
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Surveys of Enacted Curriculum (SEC) Model
Another commonly used alignment method is the Surveys of enacted curriculum model. Andrew Porter and John Smithson created it and it and through it, the classification of standards and assessments are based on content topics and cognitive demand. According to the Council of Chief State School Officers (2017), the application of the model requires the selection of four reviewers to classify the standards’ content and assessment according to the topic of contents and cognitive demand. After the classification, the level of alignment between the standards and assessments can be established.
A review of the two models reveals some differences and similarities. While SEC classifies standards and assessments based on content topics and cognitive demand, the Web model is mainly concerned with developing the knowledge of students concerning the subject matter. SEC uses four reviewers in its application while the WEB model needs between four to six educators for it to be successfully implemented. The best model is the Surveys of enacted curriculum (SEC) model due to the simplicity of its applicability and the quality of results it presents (Council of Chief State School Officers, 2002).
In summation, the two main strategic models that are commonly used are the Surveys of enacted curriculum (SEC) model and the Web model. Both the models use different criteria in their application even though they both work towards the improvement of the education system.
References
Case, B. J., Jorgensen, A. M., & Zucker, S. (2008). Alignment in educational assessment. Pearson Education Inc.
Council of Chief State School Officers. (2017). Evaluating alignment in large-scale standards-based assessment systems. Retrieved from https://ccsso.org/sites/default/files/2018-07/TILSA%20Evaluating%20Alignment%20in%20Large-Scale%20Standards-Based%20Assessment%20Systems.pdf
Council of Chief State School Officers. (2002). Models for Alignment Analysis and Assistance to States . Retrieved from https://secure.wceruw.org/seconline/Reference/AlignmentModelsforStateAssist02.pdf
