Distributed curricular goal mapping

Abstract

For this thesis, I implemented a tool that documents the equivalent of an API specification for a course or other curriculum component in an educational curriculum. This API specification is the contractual relationship between each course and the surrounding curriculum. By decomposing the curriculum in a structural manner, we can more easily ensure consistency for courses and the goals they promise to teach across a curriculum. With such a structure, we can also begin to visualize these relationships between courses, to better understand where what students learn will lead them in their time in academia. To do this, I created a visualization tool that takes advantage of the structure provided by the API specification and allows for the observation and manipulation of these relationships. In addition to applying structure to a curriculum and visualizing the resulting relationships, I have also designed and implemented protocols that will allow these relationships to be shared and distributed across universities.