Relying on theoretical principles of performance-based learning, WIDS is a state-of-the-art application for creation of thoughtful curriculum. For over 17 years, we’ve provided tools and services in curriculum development, and now our Web-based technology improves user access, ease of use, and customization. We have a proven development history that includes user and best practice input, expert developers, and most importantly, a solid foundation on how learners learn and what makes “good” curriculum.

Built around current research in performance-based learning, the WIDS model continues to promote defining expectations in terms of learning outcomes, but WIDS goes beyond this to include program assessment, outcome assessment and improvement plans, and enhanced syllabus, learning plan, and course assessment design. We’ve always referred to theoretical foundations in adult learning theory, transfer of learning, and “deliberate use of backward design” as quoted in our whitepaper. WIDS continues to reflect these same powerful concepts—a unique foothold in the current market.

Users of WIDS will be able to:

• Balance need for curriculum consistency while honoring unique teaching and learning techniques
• Ensure curriculum is accurate, consistent, and valid with common competencies and performance standards
• Create unique syllabi, learning modules, and assessment tasks
• Balance complexity--necessary for quality reporting--with ease of use
• Customize the application, define access by user role, and hide unused items

Specifically, WIDS provides these advantages:

• For Organizations
  • Access external standards as curriculum is written
  • Set college-wide outcomes
  • Designate approval protocol
  • Develop curriculum centrally and collaboratively; track edits 
  • Eliminate headache of version control and file management
  • Develop Outcome Assessment Plans
  • Identify standards for learner success, program quality objective, and details for data collection
• For Programs
  • Link college-wide outcomes and external standards to programs
  • Create customized program configurations
  • Build program assessment rubrics 
• For Courses
  • See only what you need to see; dashboard is personalized by role (instructor, developer, etc.)
  • Document phases of learning cycle for activities
  • Infuse higher order thinking with Bloom’s taxonomy
  • Control official course documentation such as competencies, grading information, linked program outcomes, linked core abilities, and external standards
  • Build syllabi, learning plans, and assessment rubrics off approved curriculum
    • Personalize these without compromising integrity of college-approved curriculum!
    • Package syllabi together with associated learning plans and assessments
    • Create multiple sections of approved syllabus

Plan for assessment

• Designate summative assessment strategies for college-wide outcomes
• Describe results achieved for college-wide outcome assessment

Customizable

• Use your own terms and model
• Add fields

Scalable

• Batch load users

Secure

• Edit incrementally without disturbing official data (by program or course)
• Maintain integrity of approved programs and courses
• Manage approval process so active, pending, and future projects are efficiently updated and monitored

For questions on how you can acquire WIDS, email Robin Nickel or call (608) 849-2411. Organizations are planning and budgeting now for a 2011-2012 implementation.



Click here for our latest brochure about the Web-version of WIDS.