Curriculum Mapping Essay Example
Curriculum Mapping Essay Example

Curriculum Mapping Essay Example

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  • Pages: 2 (498 words)
  • Published: December 28, 2016
  • Type: Article
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Creating a curriculum that meets standards is just one part of the equation. The real challenge lies in successfully implementing it in the classroom and assessing students' proficiency, which is not standardized and does not contribute to their overall achievement. Lesson planning aims to provide comprehensive explanations of what and how teachers will teach each day. On the other hand, curriculum mapping involves collecting and documenting relevant information about the curriculum, including essential skills, covered content, processes used, and assessments for each grade level and subject. Ultimately, the finalized curriculum map serves as a valuable tool for teachers to track what has been taught and prepare for future lessons.

Curriculum mapping originated from the work of Fenwick English (1980), a respected curriculum leader and theoretician. English defined curriculum mapping as the description of what content is ta

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ught and how long it takes to teach it. He emphasized that student achievement is directly influenced by the time spent teaching the curriculum, and any modifications should be based on accurate data rather than personal opinions. In the 1990s, Heidi Hayes Jacobs expanded on this concept by introducing curriculum integration, offering a template for designing comprehensive, challenging, and relevant standard-based integrated units. Additionally, Appalachia Educational Laboratory, Inc. (AEL) developed an approach known as Teaching/Learning Mapping Strategy (TLMS) process which considers both the quality of a learning task and the allocated time for learning it.

The process encourages both vertical and horizontal alignment. Vertical alignment allows teachers to easily evaluate what students learned in the previous grade and concentrate on developing skills and knowledge through "spiraling," which involves reinforcing and expanding those skills with increasin

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complexity across different grades. This prevents wasting time on unnecessary review and re-teaching. Horizontal alignment, also known as a "pacing guide," ensures that all teachers in the same grade level cover specific subject matter within the same timeframe.

Curriculum mapping has undergone development over time, with the introduction of computer technology making the process more efficient. Teachers can now utilize electronic tools to complete curriculum mapping on a weekly, quarterly, or yearly basis. AEL's Curriculum Creator is a Web-based software that allows teachers to create, store, search, sort, and print curriculum maps based on subject, grade, or standard. This tool also aids in identifying and assessing areas requiring additional attention. The goal of curriculum mapping is to improve instructional planning and assessment.

Curriculum mapping is a teacher-owned and student-centered approach to improving teaching and learning. It allows educators to actively participate in the process by embracing their strengths and creativity while focusing on students' learning strengths. By documenting students' actual learning experiences, teachers take ownership of the curriculum and become more invested in implementing and sustaining improvements. Additionally, it fosters student creativity by providing them with an overview of what they will be studying, prompting questions or ideas for projects they want to pursue. Curriculum mapping is the most effective process for enhancing education as it harnesses the strengths and creativity of both teachers and students.

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