Curriculum evaluation: status and options

Abstract

A questionnaire was used to ascertain: the status of the curriculum; curriculum characteristics; factors which have been useful in facilitating and improving the curriculum; opinions of the teaching staff on various ways of improving the educational process; and frequency of utilization of various teaching methods and audio-visual aids. The questionnaire was sent to 100 randomly selected faculty members (about 60% of total faculty members). The responses were statistically analysed to explain and elucidate the nature of the curriculum, factors or agents which have influenced the curriculum, the pattern of utilization of teaching methods and audio-visual aids, and the problems which have inhibited the rate of change. The implications of these findings for facilitating and improving the educational process are discussed.

The current status of medical education in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries

“…It is not surprising to see medical educators continue to evaluate and introduce innovations into their curricula aiming to achieve appropriate outcomes for their graduates to enable them to meet the healthcare needs of the society locally and globally. 17 – 21…”

“…Even though the medical education paradigm has evolved over the years, an increasing number of medical schools are working to improve and maintain curriculum, aiming to increase the effectiveness of the process of medical education. 17 – 19 Periodic reviews of medical school curricula were carried out in each medical school, independently, and these efforts have generated useful reforms through the years. 20 , 21…”

Study of Attitude and Perception of Medical Students Regarding the Medical Curriculum and Syllabus in a Teaching Medical College of Eastern India

“…A well constructed curriculum can test higher order diagnostic thinking and application of knowledge. The medical curriculum should be designed so as to provide adequate opportunities to acquire independent learning skills.Medical education is changing rapidly, with more than half of the American schools being engaged in curricular reforms 20,21,22 .WHO also adopted newer concept in medical education such as problem based / oriented learning, integrated medical education, learnercentered educational activity 6 . Many modern medical institution have adapted Jerome Bruner's 23, 24 concept of the "spiral curriculum," and used it in their medical teaching.…”

What issues are raised by evaluating problem‐based undergraduate medical curricula? Making healthy connections across the literature

“…Here, the focus is on the programme‐orientated approach, of which reported examples have been less obvious from traditional (El‐Hazmi & Haque 1985) compared with innovative (Pinto Pereira et al 1993) curricula.…”