The pioneer cohort of curriculum reform: Guinea pigs or trail-blazers?
With curriculum reform, whether we admit it or not, the first cohort of students will be 'test-driving' the new programme. Not only are they the pioneers of a new curriculum, but as they progress through their studies, they experience each year of the innovation for the first time. As curriculum designers, we learn from their experiences and their feedback to improve the programme content and delivery, invariably for subsequent cohorts. A considerable onus therefore rests with this pioneer group, and their contribution to curriculum design, evaluation and programme revision should be valued.
McLean
Michelle
M
Department of Physiology, Nelson R, Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa. mcleanm@ukzn.ac.za
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards*; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005246:Feedback; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods; D013019:South Africa; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards