Discussion: The Importance of Alignment

Discussion: The Importance of Alignment
and Congruence
When developing a curriculum or program, it is important to remember that the content created is just one piece of the institution

or agency. Much like placing a snapshot into a collage, nurse educators must be mindful of the larger picture. They should analyze

how this snapshot, this one piece, will fit with those around it. However, it is not uncommon for nurse educators to become so

involved with the contents of their curriculum that they inadvertently develop content in isolation. They identify skills,

procedures, and processes that are important but can forget to translate these ideas across the span of their curriculum. This can

present problems for learners, especially in academic settings where the skills presented in one course generally build on those

learned in previous courses.
One way nurse educators can place importance on the larger picture is to align the components of their curriculum with the

components of the institution or agency. In fact, using the setting’s mission, vision, and philosophy to create the mission,

vision, and philosophy of the curriculum is an effective way to build congruence. There are many strategies nurse educators can use

when seeking alignment and congruence. In this Discussion, you explore these strategies and consider how you might align your

team’s curriculum to that of your selected setting.
To prepare:
• Review Chapter 9, “Components of the Curriculum,” in the Keating text to reexamine the meanings behind a setting’s mission,

vision, and philosophy. (included – please utilize the best you can).
• Review this week’s media, Curriculum Components. Consider why nurse educators should be cognizant of their setting’s

mission, vision, and philosophy when developing the mission, vision, and philosophy for their curriculum or program.
• Use this week’s Learning Resources and your own independent research to identify strategies nurse educators can implement

to achieve alignment and congruence of curriculum components. Consider how these strategies could help to align the components of

your curriculum or program to the components of your team’s selected setting.
Post at least two strategies nurse educators can implement to achieve alignment and congruence between curriculum components.

Justify your response by providing authentic examples of how and why you would employ these strategies specific to your team’s

selected setting and proposed curriculum.