The application of curriculum analytics for improving assessments and quality assurance in higher education

Abstract

Curriculum mapping is a necessary process for establishing evidence of where learning outcomes are taught and assessed in higher education programmes. Mapping ensures the credibility of the institution and programme offerings and provides students with a clear understanding of what they can expect to learn and achieve during their academic studies. Well-mapped curricula that reference relevant standards and articulate aligned assessments are foundational for effective teaching and learning. Curriculum quality assurance measures are commonly accepted as a means of assuring accurate mapping. Assurance processes are, however, resource-intensive, error-prone and reflect human biases. Few studies have adopted an analytical approach to ensure programme quality assurance steps are traceable to a fundamental level of these maps: single courses and their assessment items. In this study, we adopted a novel curriculum analytics methodology to validate the mapping of professional standards to course-based assessments in a higher education degree program. Using an Australian initial teacher education programme as a case study, we applied and analysed results from a structured methodology that may be implemented across other disciplinary programs. Practical implications for quality assurance in higher education and the methodological contributions of this novel approach are further discussed.

Implications for practice or policy:

• Quality assurance mechanisms in higher education serve to demonstrate that specific accreditation standards have been attained or maintained.
• An evidence-based approach is needed to ensure curriculum mapping and quality assurance.
• This study's novel curriculum analytics approach provides a robust foundation for demonstrating assessments’ compliance with accreditation standards at the degree program level.
• A data-driven approach for quality assurance presents opportunities for wider and scalable applications across other institutions.