The Matrix: Moving From Principles to Pragmatics in Medical School Curriculum Renewal

Many medical programs embarking on curriculum renewal begin with overarching goals and principles, but struggle with how to translate these into an implementable curriculum and assessment practices. This article describes the Matrix, a tool developed as a means of transforming high-level pedagogic principles into a concrete curriculum while addressing the complexities of curriculum content, context, people, and places. Using a known framework as an analytic lens, the authors explore the Matrix's intended and unintended impacts on the University of British Columbia Medical Doctor Undergraduate Program (MDUP).The Matrix is a graphical representation of the 130 weeks of the renewed MDUP curriculum. Its focus is on week-level objectives, which are mapped to year-level milestones and deconstructed into individual session objectives via virtual course books.The Matrix had several predictable outcomes. It served as a tool for translating principles into a pragmatic curriculum. It created a curriculum map that reflected the original vision for renewal, enabled curriculum drift monitoring, and provided a high-level yet detailed visual representation. However, this innovation had unexpected system impacts with respect to multiple levels of governance, and it enabled realignment of the MDUP's governance structure with the functionality required to administer the renewed curriculum.The Matrix created a foundation for curriculum mapping at the MDUP. It has transitioned from the curriculum development and renewal phase into a useful implementation framework. The authors propose that it could be adapted by others for local use.