Academic & Student Services

Concept Paper: Curriculum Review and Comparison

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CURRICULUM ARTICULATION PROJECT
Project Goal and Objective

The goal of the Curriculum Articulation Project is to move toward a well articulated K-16 system of education in Wisconsin in which students make seamless transitions between secondary and postsecondary education - a system in which students do not experience gaps or unnecessary overlaps in their learning.

The primary objective of the project is to facilitate comparison of K-12 curricula, revised to reflect the Wisconsin Model Academic Standards (WMAS), and content in entry-level courses in the University of Wisconsin System (UWS).

Possible Outcomes

Possible outcomes of this project may include:

  • Decision to design and pilot revisions in entry-level UWS courses to improve alignment with high school curricula revised according to the WMAS.

  • Decision to design and pilot revisions in high school courses in response to increased understanding of post-secondary curricula expectations.

  • Replication of working groups' results across the state facilitated by dissemination of articulation models developed by each group.

Working Group Activities - Initial Meeting --February 3, 2000

Working groups are encouraged to complete the following activities during the initial working group meeting.:
 

  • Familiarize members with WMAS and the impact these standards have on K-12 curricula.

  • Identify and focus efforts on specific subject or subjects and corresponding courses within the working group's content area (e.g., European History - Social Science Working Group)

  • Compare syllabi from appropriate entry-level UWS courses and high school courses in subject area of individual working groups.

  • Determine information and data needs.

  • Establish a schedule of future meetings as well as a timeline of activities and next steps.
Working Group Activities - Subsequent Meetings, February - December, 2000

Suggested activities for subsequent meetings of working groups include:
 

  • Share student learning outcomes in high school and entry-level UWS courses.

  • Share teaching methods, learning strategies and assessments used in high school and entry-level UWS courses.

  • Identify areas of alignment and complement between courses, teaching methods and student learning.

  • Identify gaps in alignment of courses, teaching methods and student learning.

  • Develop strategies to improve alignment (e.g., revise entry-level UWS course to reflect WMAS secondary curriculum).

  • Design and implement pilot actions to improve alignment, assess effectiveness of actions, recommend modifications and create model(s) to facilitate replication and wider implementation.

  • Develop recommendations to modify content of the UW System placement tests in English or mathematics (English and mathematics working groups only).

  • Provide regular progress updates to UW System.

  • Document all working group activities and processes.

  • Prepare final report of activities, processes, outcomes and implementation models.


Project Timeline

  • February 3, 2000: General Meeting: All Working Groups
  • February-December, 2000: Working Group Meetings (3-5 meetings)
  • May 26, 2000: Progress Update Due
  • October 31, 2000: Progress Update Due
  • February 2001: General Meeting: Summary of Findings
  • April 2001: Final Dissemination Reports Due

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If you have questions or comments, direct them to Academic and Student Services, Phone: (608) 262-8778, Email: vpacad@ccmail.uwsa.edu

UWSA LogoThis document was last revised on February 2000. ©Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, All Rights Reserved.