Course Alignment Blueprint Support

As part of our accreditation obligations, NICC must demonstrate evidence of student learning and ongoing improvement (specifically under Criterion 4.B.). Using course blueprints is a practical method to fulfill this requirement. Additionally, blueprints help the college understand how various elements of instruction and learning connect. These elements include the educational learning outcomes of both the program and individual courses, the competencies expected in each unit, the learning materials used, the types of assessments (both formative and summative) employed, and the data dashboards that showcase the evidence of our students' learning progress. 

The ability to evidence student learning is a key HLC standard under Criterion 4. Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and Improvement - The institution demonstrates responsibility for the quality of its educational programs, learning environments, and support services, and it evaluates its effectiveness for student learning through processes designed to promote continuous improvement.

NOTE: HLC Accreditation Standard 4.B. 

The institution engages in ongoing assessment of student learning as part of its commitment to the educational outcomes of its students.

1.  The institution has effective processes for assessment of student learning and for achievement of learning goals in academic and co-curricular offerings.

2.  The institution uses the information gained from assessment to improve student learning.

3.  The institution’s processes and methodologies to assess student learning reflect good practice, including the substantial participation of faculty, instructional and other relevant staff members.

Yes. A course blueprint needs to be created for every course in each modality (face-to-face, online, hybrid, CBE, etc.) you teach if the course has different learning content and assessments. Faculty can use additional "sheets" in the same blueprint file to keep course blueprints together if that helps make the process easier. Reach out to the DIID Team for assistance, if needed.

Go to ‘My Campus’ and search ‘Assessment’ to access the Assessment Google Site. From there, select the ‘Common Learning Outcomes’ page and click on the Assessment Course Matrix button. Then, double-click on the course’s blueprint template link in the matrix column and it will force a copy of the template for your use. If a course is missing a template, email online@nicc.edu and the DIID team will ensure it is added. Here’s a direct link to the Assessment Course Matrix. 

Yes. If you use substantially different activities and materials across course offerings, a separate blueprint should be created. For example, a face-to-face course might include graded live class discussions and group work, and those activities would likely be different in an online, asynchronous course. In this case, you could make a copy of your face-to-face blueprint map (even within the same blueprint file, if you prefer) and make changes to reflect how the online course is delivered.

Yes, you can start by developing a shared blueprint with common course elements, and then completing it individually. Program/discipline faculty are encouraged to work together to develop a foundational course blueprint that can be used by any faculty teaching the course to ensure common assessments and essential course materials are aligned to ensure identified course outcomes are evidenced; regardless of course delivery methods. 

The advantage of creating a shareable course blueprint is that every concurrent, adjunct and new faculty member will be able to start their course design process with a basic framework already populated with ideas and examples that current faculty have contributed. Shared templates can include generic terms like “Chapter 1 Assignment or Assessment.” When faculty customize the shared template to make their own, adding more detail will be beneficial to all stakeholders. 

NOTE: If your team creates a blueprint template with pre-filled items that you would like to have as the new “Master Course Blueprint Template,” please email it to online@nicc.edu with a request to have the new spreadsheet uploaded to the Assessment Course Matrix.

Adjunct, part-time regular, and concurrent faculty are also required to complete course blueprints for their courses. Full-time faculty should invite these faculty to participate in any collaborative work being done on course guides, blueprints, or course design. All faculty can ask for support with course alignment blueprinting by emailing online@nicc.edu to request assistance.

There is more than one way to teach competency. One instructor may use an interactive lecture, another an in-class quiz activity, while another may facilitate an online discussion. The same holds true with how we assess an outcome or competency. One instructor may utilize a Brightspace multiple-choice quiz, and another may have the student write a short essay, etc. By sharing personal course blueprints and identifying shared course elements on a “common” course blueprint, program/discipline faculty will have the benefit of learning from others’ teaching experiences across instructional sites and course offering modalities.

As you finalize your syllabi each term, you can just insert the link to your completed course blueprint in the designated section of the Simple Syllabus Template. To ensure your deans can verify its inclusion, make sure this field is set to "visible" in the syllabus template so it appears in the data report.

Maintaining your course blueprint is your responsibility. Revisions should be made when course guides are updated or textbooks change.