The Theory And Application Research Of Curriculum Mapping In The Basic Education

Curriculum Mapping is an instrumental concept of curriculum development and management. It is one of the outcomes in curriculum reform worldwide since the 1980s, which also is a product of American standard-based movement in basic education. In response to students’low academic performance, the standard-based reform aimed at improving the quality of basic education was carried out in the United States. Curriculum mapping emerged from the wave of this reform, in order to strengthen the consistency between curriculum and standards, the concept of curriculum mapping as a method of curriculum deliberation within the school system was proposed by Fenwick w. English in 1980. After many years, the theoretical connotation and function of curriculum mapping has developed continuously, its application area has extended from basic education to higher education. Meanwhile curriculum mapping has become a strategy for curriculum development and integration among many school districts and schools in America.This study uses the method of theoretical analysis and case study, systematically analyzes the theory and application of curriculum mapping in the field of basic education.In the aspect of theory, this study analyzes the concept, element, type, function, process and technology of curriculum mapping to build a complete theoretical system. Meanwhile based on the intuitive description of the networked electronic curriculum mapping, it analyzes how the technology affects the function, application and development of curriculum mapping. They can make up the insufficiency in theoretical study on curriculum mapping in China.In terms of practical experience, this study analyzes the typical cases about curriculum mapping of K-12 in American districts and schools. Then it sums up the experiences on using curriculum mapping to develop curriculum, manage curriculum, and align the curriculum with curriculum standards. Using the perspective of comparison between China and the USA, this study analyzes whether it is possible to apply the idea and method of curriculum mapping to our country. In order to provide some new ideas and methods for curriculum and teaching reform in our country, it puts forward four prospects for applying curriculum mapping to our basic education: (1) curriculum mapping as a strategy for designing the standard-based curriculum; (2) curriculum mapping as a mechanism of school-based curriculum development; (3) curriculum mapping as a way of curriculum management and dialogue; (4) curriculum mapping as the platform for integrating and sharing of curriculum resources.