Academic Plan

Academic Plan

1. Purpose

   • Knowledge, skills and attitudes to be learned
     • Reflects the planners' views - implicit or explicit - about the goals postsecondary education
   • some will be strongly endorsed at one type of institution and minimized at another type

2. Content

   • Subject matter selected to convey specific knowledge, skills and attitudes
     • Some instructions typically select subject matter to facilitate learning
       • Separation of the first and second elements of the plan emphasizes that purpose and subject matter are not synonymous
   • Faculty from different fields define desirable educational outcomes such as "thinking effectively" in different ways
     • Disciplinary differences, in both intent and meaning, complicate discussions of curriculum

3. Sequence

   • an arrangement of subject matter and experiences intended to lead to specific outcomes for learners
   • Ways in which subject matter is arranged to facilitate learning in an academic plan

4. Learner Influence

   • How the plan will address a specific group of learners
   • Whether a curriculum "works" may depend on whether the plan adequately accounts for students' goals and needs and addresses students' preparation and ability
   • Student motivations to learn are influenced by their interest in the topic and their judgements of its relevance, as well as the instructor's ability to stimulate interest and demonstrate relevance

5. Instructional Resources

   • The materials and settings to be used in the learning process
     • Learning materials such as, textbooks and media, or settings such as classrooms, labs, course management platforms and practicum sites
     • Resources such as textbooks, supplemental reading materials, and visual aids are cultural artifacts laden with meanings that may or may not be fully recognized

6. Instructional Processes

   • The instructional activities by which learning may be achieved
   • The method of instruction influences student learning
   • Faculty members will expand their repertoire of teaching strategies if such choices are consciously recognized as part of curriculum development and based on knowledge about learning

7. Evaluating and Adjusting Academic Plans

   • Evaluations: the strategies used to determine whether decisions about the elements of academic plans are optimal
   • Adjustment: enhancements to the plan based on experience and evaluation

8. Curriculum

   • A college's or program's mission, purpose or collective expression of what is important for students to learn
   • A set of experiences that some authorities believe all students should have
   • Set of courses offered to students
   • Set of courses students actually elect from those available
   • Content of specific discipline
   • Time and credit in which the college provides education