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Unintended Consequences of Curricular Change: Lessons from Legacy Students
Anne Walling1, Giulia Bonaminio2, Mark Meyer2
1University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, 1010N Kansas, Wichita, KS 67214 USA.
Legacy medical students supported the new curriculum and perceived no negative educational impact. However, they noted decreased peer support for junior students and less engagement in extracurriculars from new curriculum students.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Curriculum Development
- Student Perspectives
Background:
- Many medical schools undergo curriculum reform, transitioning from traditional (legacy) to innovative educational models.
- The experiences and perceptions of students remaining in legacy curricula during such reforms are often understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the perspectives of legacy curriculum students regarding an innovative curriculum implemented in parallel.
- To assess the perceived impact of the curricular reform on legacy students' educational experience and peer interactions.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study utilizing focus groups.
- Conducted 7-8 months after the introduction of the new curriculum.
- Involved students continuing in the traditional (legacy) curriculum.
Main Results:
- Legacy students expressed support for the innovative curriculum and reported no negative impact on their own education.
- Reported a diminished capacity to assist first-year students and observed negative attitudes from first-years towards the legacy curriculum.
- Perceived reduced participation in extracurricular activities, such as the student-run free clinic, by students in the new curriculum.
Conclusions:
- Legacy students can adapt to and support curricular reforms, even without direct participation.
- Curricular changes may inadvertently affect inter-cohort dynamics and extracurricular engagement.
- Further research is needed to understand the long-term effects of parallel curricula on the overall learning environment.
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