1. Jeanie McHugo Meredith Davison
Program Directors 101
Curriculum Revision
Jeanie McHugo Meredith Davison

2. Objectives
Upon completion of this presentation, the participant will be able to:
Describe the components of curriculum design and revision
Identify and use programmatic data sources during the revision process
Analyze previous experiences and identify strategies for improvement

3. Curriculum
“The planned and unplanned experiences that students have while taking part in an educational program.”
What are the curricular foundations for PA education?
What is the curricular influence for your program?

4. Components of Intentional Curriculum
Raw Material – willing student with prerequisite knowledge, skills and attitudes
Curriculum Package
Goals
Courses
Sequence
Facilitators (teachers)
Syllabi
Lesson Plans
Evaluation Instruments
Physical Resources (desks, chairs, computers etc.)

5. Where Are You in the Revision Process?
Tinkering at the margins
Major overhaul needed

6. Plan Ahead know what finished product looks like
understand institutional requirements
changes must be consistent with your mission
curricular essentials
sequencing
content and objectives
syllabi, textbooks, rubrics, sequencing and exams
delivery
others requirements

7. Curriculum Mapping
Subject/
System
Topic
Subtopic(s)
Course/Term
Content Hrs
Cardiology
CHF
Acute
Adult
PA-600/F1 1
Chronic
PA-600
Dermatology
Infections
Bacterial: cellulitis, furuncles, …
Peds
PA-601/Sp1
1.5
Examination
Lesion morphology
Geriatric
PA-501
1 lect
1 lab
Monitor what is taught, where and at what educational level (knowledge vs application and synthesis
Curriculum mapping helps faculty understand what is planned for instruction. There are several models available
PAEA Copyright 2016

8. Key Players
Faculty course coordinator
Course workgroup (temporary)
Faculty curriculum committee
Stakeholders: Faculty, Dean, Graduates, Preceptors, Employers & STUDENTS

9. Implementation/On-going Evaluation
“Real-time” feedback from students and course facilitators
Focus groups
Classroom assessment techniques
Student performance
Student course evaluations

10. Ongoing Quality Improvement vs. Curriculum Revision
Curriculum evaluation is a continuous process
Institutional definitions and/or decisions may dictate your actions

11. The Unintended (Hidden) Curriculum: What Influences Student Learning?
culture of the program
faculty modeling
peer interactions
extra-curricular events (planned and unplanned)

12. Things to Remember….
Document the process as part of on-going self assessment (needed for ARC-PA)
Be prepared to make real-time modifications based on student/facilitator feedback
Listen, listen, listen….

13. Major Revisions Needed
Why?
When?
What?
Who?

14. Scenario Presentations
Curriculum Revision
Scenario Presentations

15. Acknowledgements Patrick Auth Grace Landel Matt Baker Bridget Calhoun
Marvis Lary
Tony Miller
Dawn Morton-Rias
PAEA Copyright 2016

16. Resources
ARC-PA, Accreditation Standards for Physician Assistant Education, 4th edition.
Hudak, N. M., Scott, V., Spear, S. B. & Hill, K. J. (2015). Reinventing the wheel: one program’s approach to redesign of didactic courses. Journal of Physician Assistand Education, 26(4):
Kern, D. Curriculum Development for Medical Education A Six- Step Approach.
Pascarella, E. & Terenzini P. (2005). How College Affects Students: A Third Decade of Research. Jossey-Bass.
Presenters acknowledge contributions from previous workshop facilitators including Matt Baker, Bridget Calhoun, Marvis Lary, Tony Miller & Dawn Morton Rios