Curriculum Correlation Filtering for Faster Standards Crosswalks
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Solution Overview
Problem
The process of correlating learning objectives or competency expectations between multiple curricula and national, industry, or government standards is labor-intensive and tedious, requiring consideration of numerous combinations of items, which can be overwhelming and prone to overlooking relevant relationships.
Innovation Solution
A system that reduces the burden by dividing curricula into subsets and filtering items using keywords, regular expressions, or arbitrary rules, allowing users to specify subsets and terms to focus on relevant correlations, thereby streamlining the process and improving thoroughness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the complete matrix approach is used to cross-walk all items between two curricula, then thoroughness of correlation is improved, but the time and effort required increases exponentially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the curriculum items into multiple categories or groups (e.g., by subject area, competency level, or topic). Instead of comparing all items against all items in a complete matrix, the system segments the curricula and performs cross-walking within each segment, significantly reducing the total number of comparisons while maintaining thoroughness within each category.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts and identifies key representative items or anchor points within each curriculum segment that serve as proxies for groups of related items. By cross-walking these extracted key items first, the system can then infer correlations for related items without examining every possible combination, thereby reducing time while preserving reliability.
2Reliability
If all possible combinations of curriculum items are considered, then completeness of mapping is improved, but the complexity of the process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cross-walking process into multiple manageable stages, organizing items into categories and processing them in structured phases. This segmentation transforms the overwhelming complete matrix approach into a series of smaller, more manageable sub-tasks that can be systematically completed while ensuring completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-categorizing items, pre-identifying key representative items, and pre-establishing correlation rules before the actual cross-walking begins. This preliminary organization reduces the complexity of the main mapping process by having the heavy lifting of structuring and rule-definition done in advance.
3Measurement precision
If manual review of all curriculum items is performed, then accuracy of correlation is improved, but the labor intensity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automated self-service cross-walking by implementing algorithms that automatically compare curriculum items, apply correlation rules, and generate mappings without requiring manual review of every item. The system serves itself by autonomously performing the cross-walking function while maintaining accuracy through built-in validation and quality control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of reviewing and comparing curriculum items with an automated computational system. The mechanical labor of manual comparison is substituted with algorithmic processing, while accuracy is maintained through programmed correlation rules, automated matching logic, and systematic validation procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for correlating learning objectives, curriculum items or elements or competency expectations between multiple curricula, or between a curriculum and established national, industry or governmental standards, includes multiple steps. A first curriculum, including multiple curriculum items, is selected. A second curriculum or standard, containing multiple elements, is selected. A curriculum item from within the first curriculum is selected. A filter is applied to the elements of the second curriculum or standard to produce a visible display of a subset of elements from within the second curriculum. Individual elements, from within the subset of elements, are identified as correlating to the curriculum item. The individual elements that correlate to the curriculum item are tagged, or cross-walked, to create a link between the curricula.