title: Virtual courses: enhancing a curriculum.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Providers of education programmes are required to demonstrate to students, staff and external regulators the content of the programme and how this aligns to key outcomes. Whilst many programme themes are straightforward to illustrate, other integral themes prove challenging to demonstrate independently.
  
  
  METHODS
  A virtual course takes elements within the current programme relating to a specific theme, repackages and maps them to provide clear signposting by highlighting each occasion the theme is taught, experienced and assessed. The individual elements remain within their current course, so there is no disruption to the established curriculum, but there is an enhancement in terms of transparently displaying linkages within a theme.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using the concept of virtual courses we have found we can respond to new initiatives and requirements of external regulators, as well as providing improved signposting for staff and students. This can be undertaken without the need to redesign a whole curriculum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In well-designed and currently effective curricula, we would like to recommend that virtual course development can enhance programme transparency, demonstrate external regulatory requirements and promote quality assurance without disruption to current content.
authors.affiliation: School of Dental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Bateman
authors.affiliation: School of Dental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.affiliation: School of Dental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Thomason
mesh_terms: D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D003479:Curriculum; D004497:Education, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D014584:User-Computer Interface
keywords: curriculum development; learning outcomes; undergraduate education