Technology Curriculum Update and Reforms: Implementation and Evaluation Dinesh Kumar Saini Acting Dean Faculty of Computing and Information Technology, Sohar University P.O. Box. -44, PC-311, Sohar, Sultanate of Oman E-mail: dinesh@soharuni.edu.om, Website: www.soharuni.edu.om

Curriculum updates – Needs for IT Curriculum Technology is fast moving and life span of the products becoming smaller and smaller - Curriculum revisions are a mainstay Memory , Processing, Storage – All growing exponential Industry expectations are moving with market needs Society need jobs Students need latest stuff in study Parents need cheaper and free education Higher education institutions need cost effective teaching

Issues Accreditation Bodies need – Guidelines to be followed but their guidelines are also becoming old with time Identification of market needs Resources Establishment of lab Staff updates Approvals Quality control Cost

ISSUES Comprehensive understanding of relevant and timely information necessary for updating a curriculum Teams - task group members Redesigning of Curriculum using an Evidence-Base to Prepare Students for Successful Practice Curriculum mapping and diversity Intuitive approaches to curriculum revisions, those constructed solely on practical knowledge, or anecdotal approaches.

Factors effecting curriculum updates Frameworks Models Theories for curriculum revisions that are congruent with their mission, Philosophy, and the aims of their revision. Traditional teaching staff and mindset

Curriculum mapping and diversity Course objectives Outdated topics Repetitive topics Duplicated assignments Definitions of diversity Cultural diversity guidelines Diversity consultant guidance Student demographics

Evidence/best practices Learning theories Faculty survey on innovations in Computing and information technology education Evidence-based teaching literature Develop memory and conceptual thinking Use case studies and simulation Develop inter professional learning environments Use available literature plus guidelines related to nursing education

External guidelines- OAAA and ACS OAAA Essentials ACS Criteria Essentials for specialties and expertise All documents reviewed must be used in developing a baccalaureate curriculum Use a lifespan focus to include learning experiences about/across various population groups Test Plan

Past and present program data Student satisfaction surveys Alumni surveys Industry evaluations Pass rates Students concerned about redundant assignments Alumni believe students need more leadership and management content Students have increased skills in delegation and prioritization

Educational Implications and Future Research Intrinsic motivation of curriculum evaluation and reform is diversification of learning styles and learning needs. Employability and entrepreneurial requirements and challenges force the institutions for curriculum reforms. Implementation methods depend on resources requirements and extra overheads it causes to implement. Issues in curriculum evaluation reforms which are: delays, implementation of curriculum update requires more resources, deviations, rules and regulations of monitoring agencies also restricting curriculum reforms

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