9.
Evaluate the curriculum as a whole.
Use the course objectives as a guide: Will the chosen content, learning activities, and evaluation processes allow students to meet the objectives for the course?
Helpful Questions to Ask
§ Are the connections among the philosophy, program goals, course objectives, learning strategies and evaluation tools clear? § Are there a range of learning resources that will allow faculty to adapt course work to meet the needs of a variety of students? § Is there a breadth of learning experiences in various clinical settings threaded throughout the curriculum? § Does this curriculum address relevant knowledge, skills, and trends that will prepare students for current practice, as well as nursing in the near future? § Are methods in place to evaluate various aspects of the curriculum over time?
General Advice Remember, developing or revising a curriculum is a team sport. The curriculum belongs to the faculty. Thus, they are responsible for its development, teaching, evaluation, and revision. However, this does not mean that every faculty member must be intimately involved in every aspect of the curriculum change. Administration should identify a leader(s) and/or a consultant for the project; proactively involve key personnel in the process; and set a plan with a timeframe for completing various aspects of the curriculum. Opportunities for review, feedback, and discussion by faculty members during the process will ensure transparency. Yet, there will always be barriers to the development and revision of a curriculum. Lack of time to commit to the work, lack of experience in curriculum development, fear of change and a lack of control, and fear of having to learn new clinical skills, content, or teaching strategies may all play a role in “slowing down the process” (Billings & Halstead, 2019). Following the steps above and agreeing upon goals, establishing a timeframe to keep the project on track, ensuring transparency of the process, and respect for everyone’s opinions will go a long way toward facilitating a positive outcome to your curriculum development or revision.
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