Determine the focus of the curriculum change. 1. Do you plan to move from a block curriculum to one structured around concepts? Will this require a change in the courses offered or the sequence of the content? Are you integrating the evaluation of competencies into your curriculum? Are you emphasizing the development of clinical judgment in your curriculum? Do you want to “update” the curriculum while maintaining most or all the structure of the current curriculum? Are you beginning a new program of study? Answering these questions is key to determining the goal of the endeavor. Once the purpose of the curriculum change is decided, develop a goal statement for the work (e.g., “Revise the curriculum to meet the 2021 AACN Essentials” or “Develop and implement a concept-based curriculum”). This goal clarifies for everyone involved the desired outcomes to be achieved at the end of the development or revision process. Billings and Halstead (2019) describe three types of curricular design: 1) Blocks of content, often reflecting clinical specialties; 2) Concept-based curriculum; and 3) Competence-based curriculum. 1 Blocks of curriculum , the most traditional approach in nursing curricula, typically require sequencing courses and content, usually structured around clinical specialty areas, patient populations, pathological conditions, or physical systems. Concept-based curricula are built around concepts integral to nursing practice that are threaded throughout the curriculum. Competency-based curricula focus on helping students achieve observable and measurable metrics throughout the program in order to be considered competent. In some cases, curricula may combine these types to achieve expected outcomes for students. For example, the blocks of content may be the structure of the curriculum, yet competencies for each course are identified and measured. 2. Think and read broadly about both the process of curriculum change and the content to be included in the change. Remember, the relevance of the curriculum for the next several years will be important for the success of students. The box below suggests general sources that might be helpful to ensure that changes made are current and appropriate for the immediate future. Review relevant literature that addresses the desired curriculum change.
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