Workforce Program Assessment Planning Guide

Step 2: Curriculum Mapping

A "curriculum map" (also often know as an "assessment map" or "curriculum matrix") shows which courses in a program address which learning outcomes. A curriculum map is useful in determining which courses already include assignments, tests, or other student assessments you could "pull" for program assessment, or which courses might be good places to "push" new assessment tools. Additionally, a curriculum map can tell you if you have any gaps (when a particular learning outcome isn't addressed in any class) or redundancies.

There are many different models for creating a curriculum map. Typically, you would set up a table (using Word or Excel) with learning outcomes down one side and courses across the top. In the cells of the table, simply insert a check mark where a competency is addressed in a particular course (as shown in this example from Interior Design*). In later steps of this process, you can add links to course outlines (as shown in this example from Cosmetology) or even the actual assignments that will be used to gather assessment data, as shown in this sample from Office Administration

Once you have developed your program's core competencies, use them to create a  curriculum map for your program by following these steps:

1. Use Excel or a table in Word to create a matrix - list your core competencies down one side, and your program courses across the top (or vice versa).
2. Consider each of your program courses and whether/how they address each core competency - review existing syllabi and course outlines as needed.
3. Fill in your table appropriately.
4. Send your completed document to Terri Daniels for posting on the Workforce Program Assessment web site.

*The Interior Design example was done before we introduced the idea of core competencies and so has quite a long list of outcomes, but it's still a useful example.

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