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At WVROCKS, when we develop a class, we start by first getting a general idea that an instructor has for it. Then, once that’s approved, we have the instructor submit an alignment map. The purpose of an alignment map is to make sure course and module objectives are written in the proper form, the objectives are measurable, and all content, assessments, and tools align with the objectives. Then, an instructional designer (like myself) reviews the alignment map to make any changes to make sure the course is using effective and appropriate instructional strategies.

However, the very first WVROCKS courses were inherited from another program. These courses did not have alignment maps. So, it was my job to go back and create alignment maps for these courses. This was a really interesting project because it was like completing the instructional design process in reverse. The courses were built but I had to go back and make sure every part of the course was aligned.

For this course, I did have to tweak some assessments to make sure they addressed course and module objectives. I also had to change objectives to make them measurable. You can click the image to look at my final result for the Politics & Film alignment map. After doing this, I realized that this process is great for evaluating the quality of a course. It made me look at each part of the course and assess its quality. I have come to find this process useful when evaluating existing courses with alignment maps. If my map differs from the existing map, that tells me the course design may need changed and I tend to notice things I would look over.