Element 1: Lay the Foundation
Purpose: Applying curriculum mapping within a district or school begins with an understanding of the fundamentals. These include being knowledgeable about the basic concepts, defining a vision for the initiative, and creating a leadership structure to support it. Element 1 outlines these tasks and offers resources for the teacher to gain such an understanding.
Activity 1: Understand Curriculum Mapping Concepts
Activity 2: Create a Shared Vision for Curriculum Mapping
Activity 3: Define the Leadership Structure to Support Mapping
Task 1: Review the Maps
Guideline: As noted in the Oklahoma State Department of Education's Process of Curriculum Mapping outline, the review process begins with "a procedure for reading maps within and across grade levels." Accomplishing such review involves grade- and building-level teachers working in a collaborative manner.
Plan–Do–Check–Act Cycle
This American Society for Quality resource explains the plan-do-check-act (PDCA) cycle. "The plan-do-check-act cycle is a four-step model for carrying out change." Launching curriculum mapping as an instructional tool is likewise a change process. The PDCA cycle is a complimentary tool for the curriculum mapping review process.
Seven Step Review Process
This resource summarizes the seven step review process outlined by Dr. Heidi Hayes Jacobs. The summary prepared by Janet Hale explains the process steps, provides a graphic representation of the process, and offers a review process planning sheet. Janet Hale is a national curriculum mapping consultant and trainer. This document was captured from CurriculumMapping101.com.
The Process of Curriculum Mapping
This Oklahoma State Department of Education document offers a process approach to curriculum mapping. The six step process offers action steps to take at each phase.
Collaborating to Improve Teacher and Student Work
This document provides two Center for Collaborative Education resources offering guidance and insights on how teachers can collaborate effectively to improve instruction. Though written in the context of the "Turning Points" design model for middle school change, these documents provide useful examples of effective collaborative processes all teachers can embrace.
Video: Quality Maps
In this video provided by Curriculum Designers, Inc, Dr. Heidi Hayes Jacobs explains her thoughts on creating quality maps. This video runs 2 minutes and 25 seconds.
Element 2: Launch the Process
Purpose: Wiktionary dictionary defines launch as "to set going; to give a start to (something); to put in operation." Curriculum mapping is an ongoing process. The process involves creating maps that drive instruction, reviewing and improving those maps over time, and learning how to master mapping strategies. Element 2 outlines these tasks and offers resources for district and school leaders and teachers to launch curriculum mapping.
Activity 1: Using Curriculum Maps to Drive Instruction
Activity 2: Undertake a Review Process to Improve Instruction
Activity 3: Learn How to Master Mapping Strategies
Element 3: Sustain and Integrate the Mapping Process
Purpose: Curriculum mapping is an ongoing process as teachers review and update the respective maps regularly. The process of updating their maps enables teachers to think about how they can improve and update their instructional approaches. The Element 3 tasks address incorporating assessment results into the mapping process.
Activity 1: Conduct Ongoing Strategic Monitoring
Activity 2: Unpack Assessment Data
Element 4: Advanced Mapping Tasks
Purpose: Curriculum mapping is an ongoing process as teachers review and update the respective maps regularly . The process of updating their maps enables teachers to think about how they can improve and update their instructional approaches. The Element 4 tasks address applying new instructional techniques and integrating technology with curriculum.
Activity 1: Update Maps with 21st Century Techniques
