title: Development and alignment of undergraduate medical curricula in a web-based, dynamic Learning Opportunities, Objectives and Outcome Platform (LOOOP).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study presents a web-based method and its interface ensuring alignment of all parts of a curriculum map including competencies, objectives, teaching and assessment methods, workload and patient availability. Needs, acceptance and effectiveness are shown through a nine-year study.
  
  
  METHODS
  After a comprehensive needs assessment, the curriculum map and a web-based interface "Learning Opportunities, Objectives and Outcome Platform" (LOOOP) were developed according to Harden's conceptual framework of 10-steps for curriculum mapping. The outcome was measured by surveys and results of interdisciplinary MCQ-assessments. The usage rates and functionalities were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The implementation of LOOOP was significantly associated with improved perception of the curriculum structure by teachers and students, quality of defined objectives and their alignment with teaching and assessment, usage by students to prepare examinations and their scores in interdisciplinary MCQ-assessment. Additionally, LOOOP improved the curriculum coordination by faculty, and assisted departments for identifying patient availability for clinical training.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LOOOP is well accepted among students and teachers, has positive effect on curriculum development, facilitates effective utilisation of educational resources and improves student's outcomes. Currently, LOOOP is used in five undergraduate medical curricula including 85,000 mapped learning opportunities (lectures, seminars), 5000 registered users (students, teachers) and 380,000 yearly page-visits.
authors.affiliation: a Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin , Germany .
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Balzer
authors.affiliation: a Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin , Germany .|b Inselspital Bern , Switzerland .
authors.forename: Wolf E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Hautz
authors.affiliation: a Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin , Germany .
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spies
authors.affiliation: a Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin , Germany .|c Klinikum rechts der Isaar München , Germany .
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bietenbeck
authors.affiliation: a Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin , Germany .
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dittmar
authors.affiliation: a Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin , Germany .
authors.forename: Firman
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sugiharto
authors.affiliation: a Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin , Germany .
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.affiliation: a Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin , Germany .
authors.forename: Dorothea
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Eisenmann
authors.affiliation: a Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin , Germany .
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bubser
authors.affiliation: a Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin , Germany .
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stieg
authors.affiliation: a Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin , Germany .
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hanfler
authors.affiliation: d Helios Clinic Berlin , Germany .
authors.forename: Waltraud
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Georg
authors.affiliation: e University of Illinois at Chicago , USA.
authors.forename: Ara
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tekian
authors.affiliation: a Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin , Germany .
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ahlers
mesh_terms: D003162:Competency-Based Education; D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D020407:Internet; D020380:Needs Assessment; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012984:Software; D014584:User-Computer Interface