Curriculum mapping is not a mere process of gathering data on the school’s taught courses. Rather, it is an opportunity for improving the performance of the school as a learning organization. How can we ensure that the design of our curriculum mapping project is supportive of learning? The first step is to take care of needed contextual cultural and structural transformations.

1. Re-culture, Re-structure:
Setting the Stage for a
Successful Curriculum
Mapping Project
Dr. Suad Alazzam
© 2012 All Rights Reserved
suad [at] portlandstate.org

2. Curriculum mapping is a
process of gathering data on
the school’s taught courses.
… an opportunity for improving
the performance of the school
as a learning organization.

3. How can we ensure that the
design of our curriculum
mapping project is supportive
of learning?

4. First Things First:
Managing the CONTEXT of the
curriculum mapping project

5. Two Major Contextual
Aspects
1. Re-culturing our school as a
learning organization
2. Re-structuring our school as
learning organization

6. Curriculum
Mapping
Project
Managing the CONTEXT of the Curriculum Mapping Project

7. Re-culture for
Learning

8. Re-culture for Learning
Where do we stand & where
do we go from here?
• What is our school’s existing
curricular culture?
• Is it supportive of learning?
• How can it be transformed?

9. Look through these
four lenses

10. 1.
The Culture of
Knowledge Creation &
Sharing

11. 2.
The Culture of
Collaboration

12. 3.
The Culture of
Communication &
Feedback Channels

13. 4.
The Culture of
Outcomes-Orientation

14. Identifying Needed
Cultural Changes
• Assess needs
• Identify goals
• Prioritize goals
• Plan accordingly: long-term
strategic plan & short-term
action plans
• Determine progress indicators

15. Creating a Culture Strategic Goals Action Plans Progress indicators
of Learning (Prioritized)
1. Knowledge
Creation & Sharing
2. Collaboration
3. Communication
& Feedback
Channels
4. Outcome-
Orientation
Planning Needed Cultural Changes in Support of Launching the Curriculum Mapping Project

16. Re-structure for
Learning

17. Re-structure for
Learning
Where do we stand & where do
we go from here?
• What is our school’s existing
curriculum structures?
• Are they supportive of learning?
• How can they be transformed?

18. Look through these
two lenses

19. 1.
Curriculum Teams
Structures

20. 2.
Time Structures

21. 1. Re-structuring our
Curriculum Teams
Informal Formal,
mechanisms participatory
of curricular structures of
decision- curriculum
making
leadership

22. Levels of Site-Based Curriculum
Leadership Structures
• Curriculum Council
• Vertical (Departmental) Teams
• Horizontal (Grade-Level) Teams
• Cross-Disciplinary Teams
• Targeted Work (ad hoc) Groups

23. A Must-Have Leadership
Structure: Curriculum Council
A Curriculum Council is a site-
based executive curriculum
leadership team that is
formulated to support the
implementation and the day-to-
day processes of the school’s
curriculum mapping project.

24. Curriculum Leadership Team Members Roles & Responsibilities
Teams
Curriculum Council
Vertical (Departmental)
Teams
Horizontal (Grade-Level)
Teams
Cross-Disciplinary Teams
Targeted Work (ad hoc)
Groups
Planning Site-Based Curriculum Leadership Structures

25. 2. Re-structuring our Time
Reality Check
How do our teachers
spend their professional
time?

26. • Teachers plan
the curriculum
(collaboratively)
• Teachers deliver • Teachers deliver
the curriculum the curriculum
• Teachers reflect
on & refine the
curriculum
(collaboratively)

27. • Structure time for planning
the curriculum
• Structure time for reflecting
on & refining the curriculum
• Structure time for teachers
collaboration, both within
grade levels and subject areas.

28. Curriculum Mapping = Enhanced Learning
The above principle
should also inform the
design of the
curriculum mapping
project itself , not just
that of its context.

29. Now What?
Now that the stage is all
set, it is time to put on
the curriculum mapping
show.
Any questions? Do not
hesitate to ask.

30. Thank You!
Dr. Suad Alazzam
© 2012 All Rights Reserved
suad [at] portlandstate.org