I have been working lately with universities at the undergraduate and the graduate levels on curriculum mapping. It's obviously a different focus than would be used for elementary and secondary levels but it yields even richer data as we uncover gaps, overlaps and areas where universities can work together to build on their curricular and instructional strengths and identify areas that need improvement in written curricula. The universities have been extremely forthright in their sharing of needs and challenges and it is a delight to work with educators who want to get it right to improve the learning for their students. I have tremendous respect for these Asian universities and their endless desire to improve their educational offerings - not just chase the almighty 'research and publish' mindset.
I am eager to continue this critical work in the line of mapping at the university levels. This is where our future teachers, doctors, environmentalists and citizens are trained after all....
2 Comments
4/12/2012 06:27:26 pm
What is actually curriculum mapping? I want to know this in detail :-)
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5/2/2012 09:43:20 pm
Curriculum mapping is an attempt to literally create a map of all the content that is taught in a class, a course, in a degree program, or even in a school. The mapping allows an overview of all the content that students are expected to know and be able to do after attending the said class, course, program, etc. Curriculum mapping holds instructors and schools responsible for ensuring that as few gaps exist as possible in the teaching and learning of students by outlining exactly what objectives will be achieved, the main content, and the assessments to be used. It provides the overview of an educational plan for educators and students alike. Curriculum mapping takes a lot of work and time and especially requires a commitment by the instructors to be honest about what is actually taught and how they ensure students are learning. But the end product is always enlightening- it always results in 'aha moments' when a staff is able to look over the maps and see where overlaps and gaps exist and how to better refine their curriculum to stop teaching in silos - to view the teaching of students as a harmonized work. Good stuff.
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June 2014
AuthorAn educator nomad traveling and teaching her way around the world. Fun stuff. Categories
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