Mapping AECT Standards Framework

Program alignment with professional standards ensures that students gain competency-based skills that can be transferred to the workplace environment. Employers continue to place a greater value on these skills. Establishing curriculum alignment with professional standards can assist with annual program evaluations, student learning outcomes, and competencies. This article focuses on aligning a graduate-level Instructional Technology program curriculum with the professional standards of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT). Provus’ Discrepancy Evaluation model was implemented to identify gaps and adjustments to the program curriculum. The program evaluation assisted in identifying areas where the curriculum needed to be updated, coherence and organization needed to be adjusted in the program, and students and key stakeholders needed to be addressed. The recommendations and suggestions provided in this study can assist other programs in planning and implementing similar alignment processes, thereby contributing to the advancement of the understanding of assessment and evaluation practices in higher education.