Sunday, April 25, 2010

Curriculum Mapping

Curriculum mapping is the implementation of curriculum design. It is a systematic development of assessment, curriculum and instruction. The mapping process discusses what is taught, how and when the instruction is taught. Mapping also enables the process of data collection that identifies core content, processes and assessment in each subject area. This data collection improves the communication and instruction in all curricular areas.
Dr. Heidi Hayes Jacobs is an author and internationally known educator/leader in the fields of curriculum mapping, curriculum integration, and developing 21st century approaches to teaching and learning. Dr.Jacobs is the president of Curriculum Designers, Inc. and the Executive Director of the Curriculum Mapping Institute. She has worked as a consultant to thousands of schools nationally and internationally. The issues that she addresses in K-12 districts are pertaining to: curriculum reform, instructional strategies to encourage higher-level thinking and strategic planning. In her book, “ “, she discusses curriculum mapping and the overall development of possible curricular designs. She states in the book that curriculum mapping is a procedure for collecting and maintaining a database of the operational curriculum in a school or district. It provides the basis for authentic examination of the database (Jacobs, 1997). When curriculum mapping is the basis of a focused, systemic effort, it becomes a hub for connecting all aspects of the system. It serves as a linchpin, a connector, which provides the basis for
§ Sharpening and focusing the curriculum to ensure a consistent core curriculum for all children.
§ Connecting other school, state, and national initiatives.
§ Aligning all instructional components, including content, skills, assessments, activities, and resources.
§ Aligning reporting tools and processes so they provide meaningful long-term data
§ Aligning all school improvement processes so they positively affect student achievement.
§ Providing the data needed to develop a meaningful vision.
§ Rethinking the support structure to ensure lasting change.
As educational leaders, we are constantly searching for the magic formula—the answer that would open the professional discussions that need to occur for meaningful change to take place. Curriculum mapping is a commonsense approach to address the systemic issue—improving student achievement. When it is implemented in a thoughtful manner, paying attention to everything we know about sustaining lasting change, it can have a dramatic effect on the culture of a school. She also discusses curriculum mapping on the youtube website.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8etEUVzo2GE

Curriculum mapping assists a school by:
§ Helps teachers create interrelated units that improve student’s understanding of concepts, ideas and activities that are cross curricular.
§ Acts as a supportive open venue for communication regarding instruction and curriculum between faculty members.
§ Allows for student connections or common understanding of academic subject areas.
§ Teachers can have a “pause” or a time of reflection to adjust their teaching so that it can be more meaningful.
§ Helps in coordination with the special areas so that preplanning can occur with field trips, performances and other non-specific academics.
§ Giving teachers knowledge regarding what is taught and when it is taught in all subject areas and grade levels,

The overall intention of a curriculum map is to help identify seams or gaps. It is supposed to prevent repetition by following the scope and sequence. The mapping process will also help with the alignment of assessments, content and methods across years or grade levels. It will also align horizontal assessments, content and methods between subjects. Ideally it will enhance assessment and instruction through the process of engagement of the curricular map.
Through my research I found several mapping systems:
§ Web-based and made with an in house program like Filemaker Pro
§ Server-based and made in house with a tool like Filemaker Pro or with software specifically for mapping
§ Web-based and hosted by a web-based company such as RubiconAtlas
§ Portable in-house documents, posted in a shared folder or in a First Class discussion group
§ Software-based and saved to local computers
Until this time I have only been aware of the portable in-house type of mapping
because that is the type we utilize in my district. A good workable mapping system is:
§ Available to faulty anytime or anywhere and ideally web-based.
§ Can be easily updated by those involved with the mapping process.
§ Adaptable to the desired content/subject.
§ Has a good communication system that actively involves faculty e-mail, or websites.
§ Able to demonstrate comparable data.
§ Only allows access to secured individuals such as administration, educators or even community members including parents.
§ As long as there is authoritative access all computers can view information.
§ Follows the district and schools goals and objectives.
§ Information can be found easily with searchable information like; grade, subject, teacher, course, assessment, date, lesson methods, and content:
There are many models that can be found on the Internet and as we have shared in
class, Fundamentals of Curriculum Development, during our mini-curriculum groupings. Some of the common sites are; FileMaker Pro, Word Template, Rubicon Atlas, Curriculum Mapper, and Curriculum Creator.

Challenges:
§ Sometimes mapping doesn’t represent clear goals.
§ It can be a large undertaking or a huge task.
§ Can cause opposing views on what kind or how to map the curriculum.
§ Does the user really see the value like the individuals who created the curriculum? Is there ownership of the overall idea?
§ Do all the vested players know the dialogue or vocabulary of the project? Meaning does the Social Studies teacher care to understand why their curriculum has to be integrated with the Reading program.

Advantages after implementation of curriculum mapping:
§ Meeting time can be devoted to ideas and lesson sharing, the everyday specialties of the unit of study.
§ It helps new teachers with a guideline of lesson planning and understanding the subject curriculum.
§ Provides real time data that can drive the instruction and assessment schedule.
§ Complements what you as a teacher does in the everyday classroom.
§ Is a communication tool for individuals of the larger community such as; parents, other schools, decision makers, and grant providers.
Websites:
http://www.leasttern.com/workshops/Mapping/WhatIsCurricMapping.ppt.pdf
http://www.curriculumdesigners.com/index.php?Path=Public/About%20Us/Dr.%20Heidi%20Hayes%20Jacobs
http://www.eyeoneducation.com/Authors/hayes_h.asp

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