Computer-based management of content in planning a problem-based medical curriculum

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Curriculum Development
• Educational Technology

Background:

• The University of Sydney's Faculty of Medicine transitioned from a 6-year undergraduate program to a 4-year graduate-entry problem-based curriculum.
• This significant educational reform required robust content management and development strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the implementation and utility of two computer-based tools in managing the new medical curriculum.
• To demonstrate how these tools facilitated staff understanding and acceptance of the curriculum changes.

Main Methods:

• Development and deployment of a commercial database tool for problem elicitation, content organization, and information retrieval.
• Utilization of a spreadsheet-based tool for displaying curriculum content on implementation grids for various teaching modalities.

Main Results:

• The database tool enabled efficient organization and searching of curriculum content.
• The spreadsheet tool facilitated clear visualization of curriculum implementation for staff.
• Both tools enhanced staff comprehension and reassurance regarding the new curriculum structure.

Conclusions:

• Computer-based tools are invaluable for developing and managing complex curriculum changes in medical education.
• Integrated tools can create a definitive curriculum database, supporting ongoing review and planning.
• Effective use of technology can facilitate smoother transitions during major educational reforms.