John B. Biggs
Encyclopedia
John B. Biggs born in Hobart
, Tasmania
in 1934, is an Australian educational psychologist
and novel
ist who developed the SOLO Taxonomy
for assessing the quality of learning outcomes, and the model of constructive alignment
for designing teaching and assessment (Biggs, 2007). After studying psychology at the University of Tasmania
(BA, 1957), he moved to the UK for doctoral studies at the University of London
(PhD, 1963). He has since held university faculty positions in Australia
, Canada
, UK, and Hong Kong
. His final institutional affiliation is as Honorary Professor of Psychology at the University of Hong Kong
. His most influential work is his concept of constructive alignment
, which is an outcomes-based framework for university teaching as described in Teaching for Quality Learning at University now in its third edition with Catherine Tang as co-author.
Since retiring from academic life, Biggs has published short stories and four novels, The Girl in the Golden House (2003), Project Integrens (2006), Disguises (2007) and Tin Dragons (2008).
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
, Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
in 1934, is an Australian educational psychologist
Educational psychology
Educational psychology is the study of how humans learn in educational settings, the effectiveness of educational interventions, the psychology of teaching, and the social psychology of schools as organizations. Educational psychology is concerned with how students learn and develop, often focusing...
and novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
ist who developed the SOLO Taxonomy
Structure of Observed Learning Outcome
The Structure of Observed Learning Outcome taxonomy is a model that describes levels of increasing complexity in student's understanding of subjects. It was proposed by John B. Biggs and K...
for assessing the quality of learning outcomes, and the model of constructive alignment
Constructive alignment
Constructive alignment is a principle used for devising teaching and learning activities, and assessment tasks, that directly address the learning outcomes intended in a way not typically achieved in traditional lectures, tutorial classes and examinations . Constructive alignment was devised by...
for designing teaching and assessment (Biggs, 2007). After studying psychology at the University of Tasmania
University of Tasmania
The University of Tasmania is a medium-sized public Australian university based in Tasmania, Australia. Officially founded on 1 January 1890, it was the fourth university to be established in nineteenth-century Australia...
(BA, 1957), he moved to the UK for doctoral studies at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
(PhD, 1963). He has since held university faculty positions in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, UK, and Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. His final institutional affiliation is as Honorary Professor of Psychology at the University of Hong Kong
The University of Hong Kong
The University of Hong Kong is the oldest tertiary institution in Hong Kong. Its motto is "Sapientia et Virtus" in Latin, meaning "wisdom and virtue", and "" in Chinese...
. His most influential work is his concept of constructive alignment
Constructive alignment
Constructive alignment is a principle used for devising teaching and learning activities, and assessment tasks, that directly address the learning outcomes intended in a way not typically achieved in traditional lectures, tutorial classes and examinations . Constructive alignment was devised by...
, which is an outcomes-based framework for university teaching as described in Teaching for Quality Learning at University now in its third edition with Catherine Tang as co-author.
Since retiring from academic life, Biggs has published short stories and four novels, The Girl in the Golden House (2003), Project Integrens (2006), Disguises (2007) and Tin Dragons (2008).