Curriculum Mapping

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1 Curriculum Mapping
2 Importance
3 Application to Small Learning Communities
4 Development Process
5 Previous Work
6 Templates

Curriculum Mapping

Importance

Curriculum mapping is extremely important in helping teachers to give a procedure to organize their curriculum in a logical and reasonable manner. Mapping allows teachers to have a "Big Picture" of what happens in their classroom. This work is different than a syllabus or curriculum framework in that it goes into not only what is being taught, but of the skills they are addressing along with the assessment of those skills and understandings.

This is an attempt to get away from their textbooks and look at the end in mind of their course. Once we focus on what we need to teach instead of what we teach, we can then look at our course teaching with fresh eyes.

This is related to Understanding by Design (UbD) designed by Wiggins and McTighe (1998). This approach intends to deepen student understanding of important concepts and skills so that these Big Ideas endure over time. However, UbD focuses on lessons and units, where curriculum mapping is more comprehensive.

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Application to Small Learning Communities

Small learning communities, also known as small schools and career academies, are an attempt to connect students to their interests and passions. Most small learning communities have a theme that define who they are and what they offer. Unlike a comprehensive school with more than 1500 students, small learning communities cannot be all things to all students. In order to be successful, a small learning community should focus on a theme and what a graduate experience is when they complete 4 years of courses in the small learning community. Of course students will take college prep and high school required classes, yet to make a unique experience and to take advantage of the small learning community, a theme should be applied in all the classes.

An article from Stanford highlights the importance of focusing on what schools are offering their students.

Click the link to view Rick Corlett's presentation to the 2008 Summer Institute media:corlett_presentation.pdf.

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Development Process

There are three basic stages to the process of curriculum mapping for small learning communities. To understand this though we need to define two principles: 1) vertical mapping and 2) horizontal mapping.

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Vertical Mapping

Vertical Mapping involves starting with the end in mind of a senior graduating from a small learning community. This involves defining what a graduating senior looks like. What do they know? What are they able to do? After this is asked, then we can begin working our way backwards. This is often termed backwards planning.

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Horizontal Mapping

Horizontal Planning involves planning at grade level. This should go hand in hand with the vertical planning. Working with big ideas and standards, teachers map out their curriculum together enforcing the skills of the theme in all the classes. For example, a school with a science theme could enforce teaching students about the Scientific Method in their classes. If an English teacher is teaching about clear concise scientific writing, then the student will deepen their understanding of the Scientific Method.

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Three Steps

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Stage 1: Identify Desired Results or Big Ideas

What understandings are desired at the end of the learning experience?

Understanding of the richness and biodiversity of San Diego, as well as the problems of conservation and pollution that effect this community. Understanding of possible solutions to these problems, including the importance of individual responsibilies and actions.

Understanding of the connection between information and emotion and how that can be used to effect change. This understanding includes reading and writing technically and creatively, as well as the art of persuasion.

What big or essential questions will guide this learning?

How are we connected to our environment? How do we effect our envionment and how does our envionment affect us? Why is this connection important?

What key knowledge and skills will students acquire over the time of the learning experience?

Further their literacy by reading informational text and poetry, as well as by technical writing and creative expression in poetry and reflection.

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