Curriculum mapping helps

18/04/07 10:43 Filed in: Curriculum | Think clearly
Tom Postema
Tom Postema, department chair coordinator at Christian Academy in Japan (CAJ), describes how curriculum mapping helps CAJ:

CAJ department chairs think curriculum mapping helps us increase our CLASS:
  • Collaboration
  • Learning
  • Accountability
  • Strategic planning
  • Sustainability
To find out why, read on.

How does curriculum mapping help CAJ increase Collaboration?
  • I am in more discussions about curriculum now and this has resulted in me collaboratively developing unit plans.
  • I can get ideas for lessons from colleagues' maps.
  • We can work together cross-grade level or cross-departments on specific units or projects.
  • As a result of curriculum mapping, principals are increasingly talking with each other about curriculum and are increasingly working with teachers on unit plans.
  • Curriculum mapping helps me see that curriculum development is a together thing.
How does curriculum mapping help CAJ increase Learning?
  • It helps me plan instruction more effectively, and planned instruction increases student learning.
  • We can modify our maps in response to assessment in order to promote student learning.
  • It helps me increase alignment between the content and skills I teach and the content and skills I assess.
  • It helps us use common vocabulary across divisions and departments to reinforce student learning.
  • It helps us compare what we thought we were teaching and what we actually are teaching–and then we can go ahead and plug the holes.
How does curriculum mapping help CAJ increase Accountability?
  • I'm glad that I can see colleagues' unit plans and they can see mine. "Going public" helps me be accountable for my unit plans and helps me support their work.
  • The curriculum coordinator can see the overall picture, and this helps him provide the accountability departments need to work effectively.
  • Curriculum mapping helps the administration hold itself accountable to reach its two goals of developing an exemplary curriculum and meeting curriculum related accreditation standards.
How does curriculum mapping help CAJ increase Strategic planning?
  • We use mapping data to determine what the professional development topics for next year are going to be.
  • We use mapping to implement our plan to get the curriculum done.
  • We use mapping data to determine curriculum goals for next year, including having units with accurately mapped content and skills.

How does curriculum mapping help CAJ increase Sustainability?
  • A new teacher can come in and quickly know what their curriculum is.
  • You can find it; you can adapt it; you can use it.
  • You can determine what resources you have and what resources you need to sustain a program.