iwasiw ppts ch01_3_e

Chapter 1

Creation of an Evidence-Informed, Context-Relevant,

Unified Curriculum

Overview

• Curriculum development in nursing education is a scholarly and creative process intended to produce an evidence-informed, context-relevant, unified curriculum.

• Curriculum development activities range from regular, periodic refinement of class activities to the creation of completely original and reconceptualized curriculum.

Definitions And Conceptualizations Of Curriculum

• Term first used in Scotland around 1820, first used professionally in America about a century later.

• Developed from Latin currere, to run, or to run a course.

• Scope and definition of the term have greatly expanded due to social forces.

Definitions And Conceptualizations Of Curriculum (cont.)

• Definitions include:– A plan or program for all experiences learners

encounter under a school’s direction.– Desired goal or set of values.– All of the educational experiences learners have in

an educational program.– Written document, planned experiences.– Reflection of social emphases, planned learning

outcomes, etc.


• Categories for definitions include:– Means vs. ends– Content vs. experiences– Processes vs. plan– Purpose, context, strategy– Subject matter, a plan, an experience, or outcomes– Nontechnical approach– Culture with complex layers


• Nursing curriculum as evidence-informed, context-relevant, and unified– Evidence-informed is based on:• The context in which curriculum is offered.• Students, learning, teaching, and nursing education.• Nursing practice.• Clients and their responses to health situations.


• Nursing curriculum as evidence-informed, context-relevant, and unified (cont.)– Context-relevant is:• Responsive to students, current and projected societal

health and community situations; current and projected imperatives of nursing profession.• Consistent with the mission, philosophy, and goals of

institution, and school of nursing.• Feasible within the realities of school and community.


• Nursing curriculum as evidence-informed, context-relevant, and unified (cont.)– Unified curriculum contains circular components,

specifically:• Philosophical approaches, professional abilities,

curriculum concepts.• Level and course learning goals, competencies.• Course titles reflect approaches and concepts.• Strategies to ignite learning.• Language of approaches, concepts, used in materials.


• Curriculum or program?– Although both are used interchangeably, nursing

program is broader in scope.– Nursing program includes:• Nursing curriculum.• School of nursing’s culture.• Administrative operations of the school.• Faculty’s complete teaching, research, activities.• Schools relationship with other academic units,

healthcare agencies, community, etc.

Curriculum Development in Nursing Education

• Curriculum development in nursing education is a scholarly and creative process intended to produce an evidence-informed, context-relevant, unified nursing curriculum.

• Ultimate purpose is to create learning opportunities that build student’s professional knowledge, skills, values, and identity.

Model Of Evidence-Informed, Context-Relevant, Unified Curriculum

Development In Nursing Education• Core processes of curriculum work– Faculty development• Necessary to prepare stakeholders in educational

theory.– Ongoing appraisal• Regular review and critique are necessary.

– Scholarship• Central activity of academia, and, therefore, curriculum

development.


Development In Nursing Education (cont.)• Curriculum development activities– Determine the need and gain support for

curriculum development.– Decide on curriculum leader.– Organize for curriculum development.– Gather, analyze, and interpret data about internal

and external contextual factors.


Development In Nursing Education (cont.)• Curriculum development activities (cont.)– Establish philosophical and educational

approaches.– Formulate curriculum goal or outcome

statements.– Design the curriculum and plan curriculum

implementation and evaluation


Development In Nursing Education (cont.)• Curriculum development activities (cont.)– Design courses and plan course implementation

and evaluation.– Implement the curriculum and conduct ongoing

curriculum evaluation and refinement.– Evaluate the whole curriculum.


Development In Nursing Education (cont.)• Feedback loops– Model that at every stage of curriculum

development, implementation, and evaluation, judgments are made about the appropriateness and fit of one element with the previous elements, and the possibility of modifications.

Interpersonal Dimensions Of Curriculum Development

• Curriculum development is marked by the dynamics of all interpersonal activities.

• Deliberations occur in collaboration with colleagues whose values may be divergent.

• Dynamics, influence of power are also part of curriculum development, and aftermath.

• Development represents significant change for faculty members, removing comfort.