College of Medicine Department of Medical Education (DME) Curriculum Development Unit Unit Objectives, Strategies and Plan of Action Presented to College.

College of MedicineDepartment of Medical Education (DME)

Curriculum Development Unit

Unit Objectives, Strategies and Plan of Action

Presented toCollege of Medicine Executive Council by Prof.

Bashir Hamad, 12/12/06 

 CONTENTS1. The existing curriculum and its implementation. Main strengths, weaknesses.

2. Curriculum Management

3. Curriculum Evaluation

4. Objectives and Plan of Action

 Policy mandate on:

a) the extent of changes in existing (Sydney) curriculum

b) how the curriculum is to be implemented, managed and evaluated

Preliminary comments:

The existing curriculum and its implementation.

Main strengths, drawbacks.

1.1  Strengths• well organized with impressive content details and efforts for student guidance especially available on-line • early integration of the socio- cultural and behavioral aspects with biological aspects • early introduction to clinical practice.

1.2  Main weaknesses

1.2.1 Absence of specific educational objectives.

Clearly stated block objectives• Provide students (and faculty) with clarity of vision and the minimum required competencies by the end of block. • Instructional and evaluation (including assessment) methods relevantly planned and designed.

  For uniformity  

block/course booklet format:(1) Course title, symbol and no.(2) Duration (credit hours & weeks)(3) Coordinator, co-coordinator and student coordinator(4) Responsible multidisciplinary group (MDG)(5) Intended Students

(6) Prerequisites(7) Rationale/Justification(8) Objectives especially specific instructional objectives (SIOs)(9) Education strategies and methods (and detailed timetable)(10) Evaluation and assessment methods(11) Required resources(12) References and other learning materials

The block booklet (by MDG) is handed to each student in the first session of the block/module. It is the responsibility of the student to realize the objectives (minimum required competencies of block) irrespective of the education activities offered. (SDL).

1.2.2  PBL problem objectives

• problem selection for block according to set criteria and to • achieve some of the objectives of block.

1.2.3 PBL Scenarios: Modify or change the names of individuals or replace to make their scenarios relevant to KSA

Ensure : exciting, motivating and challenging to students. • Learning issues not to be given in the student copy!

1.2.4 The educational activities of the week give away problem in lectures

• lectures should be limited to:

*Other topics relevant to week *Topics thought difficult to grasp. *Topics requested by students.

1.2.4  Student seminars lacking in education activities of the

week

• Help bridging gaps in content (student-centered learning)

. Enhance student ability and confidence in presentation

1.2.5  Part-time faculty. • very little or no help from registrars or residents. • Give them more share in responsibilities for health care • Students learn more from registrars/residents within units, than from consultants. 

2. Curriculum Management 2.1  The Curriculum Committee (CC) broad base of the faculty represented (full-time and part-time) block coordinators and students.

 2.2  The Multidisciplinary Groups (MDGs)The MDGs responsible to CC for all affairs of block (planning, running, evaluation (and assessment) and review and development) in consultation with DME units.

• Enhance team work and (CPD) of faculty.

2.3    students’ involvement

• Participation in MDG, student coordinator• Representation in CC• Full involvement in evaluation• Academic advisor system (counseling service in academic and other affairs).

• regular (e.g. monthly) meetings of students with College leadership

• student orientation and training on continuing basis.

3. Curriculum Evaluation -Evaluation and Assessment Units functional in a big way.Policy and procedure document on student assessment and program evaluation in College.

4. Objectives •Education and Service •Research•Strategies •Evaluation

Plan of Action Education and Service

Objective 1: Develop College Curriculum to be more relevant to KSA and more in line with best-evidence medical education (BEME) and contemporary medical education,

and ensure that it is consonant with the Global Standards for Basic Medical Education as stipulated by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME, 2003).

Activity By Whom When/target date

Resources, Remarks

1.1 Meeting College leadership to obtain policy mandate on extent of curriculum change and/or agreement and action on items 1.2-1.9, 2.1-2.4 and 3.      

Chairman, DME Director, CDUDean, COM     

Q4 (2006)

- assistant medical librarian- faculty expert instruction- Residents/ registrars

Activity By Whom When/target date

Resources, Remarks

1.2  Issue College Leadership (CL) directive for:  1.2.1 Broad-based representation of CC (+ block coordinators)  1.2.2 Reactivation of MDGs   1.2.3 Student Representation in CC and MDGs (student coordinator)  1.2.4 Commitment of Part-time faculty 

CL & CC, ASA  CL & CC, ASA  

CL & CC, ASA  CL & NGH

1.3   Issue CL directive for planning & implementation of:  1.3.1 Block objectives 

1.3.2 Uniform block format  1.3.3 PBL problem objectives  1.3.4 Relevant, motivating PBL problems  1.3.5    PBL problems and lectures      

CL, CC, MDGs with CDU  CL, CC, MDGs with CDU CL, CC, MDGs with CDU CL, CC, MDGs with CDU CL, CC, MDGs with CDU  CL, CC, MDGs with CDU  

Q4 (06)                            

Objective 2: Provide medical education advice and support to the college curriculum committee to help it fulfill its charges especially in relation to overseeing curriculum development, implementation activities, review and renovation.

Objective 3: Follow-up, through the CC, the implementation of the curriculum improvement modalities emanating from program evaluation (unit) activities.

Activity By Whom When/target date

Resources, Remarks

2.1   Participate as a member and education expert in CC meetings and initiate, whenever appropriate, the discussion and decision on issues related to curriculum development   2.2   Prepare and forward proposal to CC for decision on periodicity of faculty retreat workshops for curriculum review and renovation. 

CDU, CC    

CDU, EU, CDME, CC    

CC meeting dates (see G chart)  

Q1 (07)   

Objective 4: In collaboration with Faculty Development Unit, conduct continuing medical education activities for (full-time and part-time) faculty in the form of individual tuition and mini-workshops for small groups (especially MDGs) with focus on learning by doing to make them better able to plan, design, implement, monitor and evaluate the curriculum and its component parts.

Objective 5: Collaborate with the Faculty Development Unit and Master of Medical Education program in faculty development activities and education/training respectively to promote curriculum development.

Objective 6: Help (and help faculty to) orient students to the system of education and evaluation in the College and acquaint them with the new approaches in medical education and rationale for their use to make them more able and willing to support the system and play a more positive and effective role in it.

Objective 7: Provide (part-time and full-time) faculty and students with curriculum literature updates in collaboration with the Evaluation Unit, and medical education library of the Department (DME).

Objective 8: Liaise with sister colleges in the Kingdom, the region and world-wide for close collaboration in exchange of experiences, credit transfers and faculty and student exchange programs.

Research Objective 9: Conduct, and assist faculty and students to conduct, research in medical education with special reference to curriculum development (and priority health problems) in close collaboration with Research and Dissemination Programme in DME.

Activity By Whom When/target date

Resources, Remarks

9.1 Define research areas of priority to CDU and encourage faculty and students to research these offering participation in supervision 9.2 Participate in supervision of regular research projects of faculty and students especially those in areas relevant to curriculum development. 9.3 prepare research proposals in priority areas, forward to secure funding and conduct.

CDU, RDP, CDME    

CDU      

TAs, CDU, CDME, RDP

Q1 (2007)    

On-goingactivity    Q2 (07)