Experience with the Process of Curriculum Innovation

Summary

A Curriculum Innovation Committee (CIC) was formed in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Alberta, to provide recommendations, and, if necessary, to implement changes. The CIC identified a variety of problems in the present program, including lack of emphasis on social/sociological matters, lack of integration of material, lack of skills for life-long learning, and widespread student dissatisfaction with the preclinical curriculum. The CIC sought input from the Faculty and developed a plan in which the preclinical curriculum will be taught in system-based blocks. The committee recommended attention to active learning strategies, but suggested that each block consider a mix of teaching approaches appropriate to the material and consistent with available resources. Throughout the process the CIC has remained in close touch with the Department Chairs and with the Faculty in general, public forums, a newsletter which appears every 2–3 months and a one-page update which appears every two weeks. While the process of change is still going on, in general there has been widespread acceptance both of the need for change and of the proposed changes. We attribute this acceptance to a CIC which has representation from most areas of the Faculty, and inclusion of some members who have a strong reputation for research or clinical practice, the support of the Dean, and serious attempts to involve and inform the Faculty, and particularly the Department Chairs, in the process of curriculum change.