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
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
Task 2: Carry Out Diagnostic Assessment of Student Work
Guideline: The assessment of student work incorporates the results from state-level achievement testing, other summative testing, and formative assessment results. Analyzing assessment results provides the means to identify performance patterns that should be monitored strategically .
Assessment for Learning: 10 Principles
From the Assessment Reform Group, "Assessment for Learning: 10 Principles is a leaflet/poster summarizing the essential features of assessment for learning in an accessible form. The Principles are based on research evidence and have been widely discussed with experts and practitioners in assessment during their development."
Linking Classroom Assessment with Student Learning
This Education Testing Service resource offers an overview of classroom assessment and its link to instruction. It also addresses planning assessments, involving students, assessing the assessment, and reviewing the results after the assessment has been conducted.
Putting Testing in Perspective: It's for Learning
In this article, Rick Stiggins and Stephen Chappuis suggest an approach to formative assessment within the context of assessment for learning. As an instuctional tool, true formative assessment will bring teachers and students together every step of the way.
The Forgotten Art of Formative Assessment
This article offers an overview of formative assessment including a definition, evidence of its effectiveness, and examples of classroom use.
Using Formative Assessments to Improve the Achievement of All Students
"In this two-part presentation, Robert Anderson, Senior Assessment Specialist at WestEd, will help participants gain a greater understanding of formative assessment, which is currently seen as a key component of district and school program improvement efforts, and as a powerful tool in the efforts to overcome achievement gaps and to ensure educational equity." Each part is 60 minutes in length.
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
