After my post overviewing outcome maps, I think it’s only appropriate to follow up with a how-to post, including considerations for mapping your outcomes and interventions.
If you’re along for the journey, let me start by giving you some preparatory tips.
BEFORE MAPPING
Assemble a squad
It’s important to involve partners and stakeholders to ensure that necessary perspectives are included and considered when indicating alignment. You’re likely to invite fellow staff, but make sure to also include students — you know, the people whom you serve and will be doing the learning.
It also won’t hurt to have staff from other departments offer their student development and success perspectives. Plus, faculty can help you articulate and justify your learning outcome connections.
Ensure a firm foundation
Make sure you’re starting with sound material. If you inherited your outcomes, it’s been a while since they were reviewed, or major campus changes have taken place (such as COVID-19 adjustments), make sure your outcomes are still relevant and reflective of your office.
And as you consider alignment beyond your area, you should also have a copy of the larger outcome framework from your division or institutional outcomes and learning goals. If appropriate, you should gather requisite accreditation standards, industry or professional competencies (from international orgs like ACPA and NASPA, as well as functional area organizations like NACA, NODA, AACRAO), strategic goals, or other elements which might help ground and prioritize activity.
MAKING YOUR MAP
Once you have your people and resources gathered, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get to work!