CONTINOUS QUALITY IIMPROVEMENT PROCESS USING CONSTRUCTIVE ALIGNMENT

This paper presents an application of continuous quality improvement (CQI) process for a typical engineering course using constructive alignment. The performance measures are the course learning outcomes (CLO) attainment and overall course grades which combines the marks obtained in the tests, assignments and final examination. Tests and final examination represent the cognitive assessment while assignments represent the generic skills assessment measured using rubrics. Pareto diagram is used to analyze the CLO attainment data resulting from tests, assignments and final exam marks. Possible causes related to low CLO attainment are explored using the QC tool of Ishikawa diagram. From detail studies on both Pareto and Ishikawa diagrams, CQI activities based on constructive alignment are then drafted and implemented to the course. The CQI implementation shows significant improvements to the CLO attainments.