Curricular Challenges Research Articles

Understanding faculty perspectives on health equity curriculum implementation in graduate medical education: a qualitative study.

Despite increased awareness of persistent healthcare disparities, integrating health equity education into medical residency curricula needs urgent expansion. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) mandates addressing healthcare disparities and social determinants of health, but implementation remains insufficient due to pervasive barriers. To explore residency faculty perspectives at one institution surrounding implementing a health equity curriculum within their programs. Between November 2022 and April 2023, qualitative interviews and focus groups were conducted with residency faculty participants (n = 13) from a large academic medical institution. Participants were recruited via an internal email list directory of program directors. Semi-structured sessions explored faculty perspectives on health equity curriculum implementation. Data analysis utilized template analysis and thematic coding. Faculty perceived barriers included limited time for teaching health equity, challenges in prioritizing health equity content within the curriculum, lack of formal training and expertise, discomfort in leading discussions, and institutional barriers such as resource allocation and lack of buy-in. Findings underscored the need for institutionally supported faculty development and protected learning time for health equity education. Despite participant recruitment and representation limitations, the study provides valuable insights for addressing curricular challenges. This study highlights critical areas for improving health equity curriculum implementation in graduate medical education. Addressing these faculty barriers can enhance resident competency in identifying and addressing healthcare disparities. The study received approval from the Thomas Jefferson Institutional Review Board (IRB #22E.762).

Developing an Entrepreneurship Training Framework for Graphic Design Students at the Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa

Entrepreneurship education has become increasingly important worldwide, including for graduates in South Africa. Like their counterparts in other emerging economies, South African graduates face challenges in starting their businesses. This study focused on Graphic Design graduates at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), who encountered difficulties in establishing their design businesses. The research aimed to develop an entrepreneurship education framework for the Integrated Communication Design (ICD) programme at Tshwane University of Technology. A qualitative method was used along with an interpretivism research philosophy to examine small and micrographic design businesses in Tshwane’s central business district. In this article, twelve participants were chosen through purposive sampling. Four main themes were revealed in this article namely, core entrepreneurial skills, curriculum challenges in practical education, challenges faced by graphic design graduates, and strategies for improving business performance. These findings informed the proposed framework for entrepreneurial education for Tshwane University of Technology. The study identified ten key challenges for graphic design graduates, such as a lack of contracts, mentorship, and financial support, difficulties in hiring skilled staff, limited business knowledge, reliance on government contracts, excessive subcontracting, brand recognition issues, cash flow problems, and corruption. The study concluded by emphasising the urgent need for a shift in graphic design education, particularly in South Africa. It is recommended that graphic design educational institutions and the government join hands in finding ways to sponsor these entrepreneurs financially and non-financially to make their transition into the corporate world as smooth as possible. Keywords: Curriculum, entrepreneurship education, graphic design, higher education, Integrated Communication Design (ICD), small business

Examining Dropout Among Graduate and Undergraduate Public Affairs and Political Science Students

Within the domain of public affairs and political science (PAPS), student dropout emerges as a critical concern. This study delves into the factors influencing the decisions of undergraduate and graduate PAPS students to discontinue their programs. Employing a comprehensive mixed-methods approach, we surveyed 384 at-risk undergraduates and conducted in-depth interviews with 18 former graduate students. Thematic analysis of these interviews revealed six pivotal factors influencing graduate student dropout: the financial burden of study (including tuition and limited financial aid), program curricular challenges (such as demanding thesis requirements and inadequate practical components), the delicate balance of multiple responsibilities (work, study, and family), health-related issues (including anxiety and stress), poor academic performance, and personal difficulties (such as lack of family support). At the undergraduate level, descriptive analyses indicated that 38% of PAPS students contemplated dropping out, with 30% considering changing their major. Exploratory Factor Analysis and Multiple Regression highlighted the significance of factors such as family and societal influences, economic considerations, program and curriculum structure, institutional dynamics, academic performance, personal attitudes, and student health in shaping these contemplations. This research not only expands the application of integration and engagement theory and the pull, push, and failing out theory but also validates their effectiveness in predicting dropout within PAPS programs. The study offers valuable insights for both researchers and policymakers, underscoring the imperative for more supportive, flexible, and financially viable educational structures to enhance student retention in the realm of public affairs and political science.

Toward Sustainable Lifelong Learning: Feedforward Effects of Challenge Recollections on Adult Learning Identity

ABSTRACTLittle research has examined how prior learning experiences influence adult learning attitudes and lifelong learning engagement. We adopted a person‐centric approach to examine past work‐related learning experiences and assessed the effects of recalled challenges on current learning attitudes, intentions, and behavior in the same domain. Surveying alumni from an online master's degree program, we found that recollected challenges from past learning entail multifaceted challenge foci (e.g., curriculum‐related vs. social obstacles). Learners reporting more challenges in curriculum and social dimensions reported less positive attitudes toward lifelong learning, supporting the notion that negative learning experiences may hinder the development of self‐identity as a lifelong learner. Limited support was obtained for predictions about relationships between past challenges and post‐graduation learning intentions and behavior. The person‐centric approach also permits the analysis of past learning experiences that are not well captured by standard assessments of “successful” adult learning.

Structured Intervention of Early Term Preclinical Veterinary Students Experiencing Academic Peril Improves Academic Performance.

Veterinary medical students experiencing curricular challenges naturally look to their institution for resources to facilitate improvement in academic productivity. Academic remediation programs tend to be institution-specific, and their impact on student success is uncommonly interrogated using rigorous objective assessment. This study investigated the deployment of an academic development program (ADP) in the second semester of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) Program. The research focused on the impact of the ADP on student attrition, mean semester course grade improvements, and performance on the Veterinary Educational Assessment (VEA) examination. Performance metrics were compared between the ADP group and a control group (CG) of students from one semester ahead who were determined to be demographically equivalent and in the same class (bottom) quartile as the ADP group but did not have any structured academic remediation. The findings indicate that students participating in the ADP had less attrition and gradual increases in end-of-semester grades, such that by the beginning of their 5th semester, ADP students' grades were indistinguishable from upper quartiles in their class. This trend was not observed in the CG class with significant differences still present between the lower quartiles (i.e., CG) grades and the remainder of the class (p = .0046). ADP enrollment had a positive effect on VEA scores with mean scale score increased by 4.83 points (p = .017). This study provided the framework for a successful institutional academic remediation program that could be modeled at other institutions striving to bolster student support services.

Rational Redesign of an Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience Curriculum

ObjectiveTo utilize a process to identify strengths and weaknesses of an introductory pharmacy practice experience (IPPE) curriculum from stakeholder perspectives and undergo IPPE curricular revision. MethodsAn IPPE curriculum redesign taskforce was created, and a 5-step systematic quality improvement process was developed and applied to redesign an IPPE curriculum. The steps were to identify existing curriculum challenges and strengths, determine potential solutions to challenges, redesign IPPE curricular structure, obtain stakeholder input and support, and redesign IPPE content. Throughout these steps, surveys were administered, and feedback was solicited from stakeholder groups through focus groups and meetings. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were analyzed using inductive content analysis and peer debriefing to identify themes. ResultsStudent survey and focus group results identified desires to limit student-preceptor negotiations when scheduling hours, decrease conflict between IPPE hours and scheduled classes, and increase direct patient care opportunities. Structural revisions included transition of IPPE hours from the first and second year of the program into the third year, revising course schedule grids to allow third-year students 1 day per week to complete hours, and aligning rotation dates during class-free times. Curricular content was strengthened through curricular mapping, threading, and course coordinator collaborations. ConclusionA 5-step IPPE redesign systematic quality improvement process utilizing solicitation, analysis, and incorporation of stakeholder feedback was used to revise an IPPE curriculum to maintain framework and content strengths and address weaknesses. Other pharmacy programs could utilize this process to redesign their IPPE curriculum.

Evaluating the Implementation and Challenges of the Single National Curriculum at the Primary Level in District Jhelum

A salient policy move in Pakistan emerged with the conception and foundation of the Single National Curriculum (SNC), to standardize the educational content and ensure educational equity in the country. This study aims to look at the implementation of the SNC at the primary level in District Jhelum, focusing on problems that have occurred during this time and the validity of the policy. It adopted a mixed-method study design that used questionnaires and interviews to gather quantitative and qualitative data on resource allocation, teacher training, curriculum acceptance, and involvement of stakeholders. Obstacles to the implementation of the SNC are shown to be resource inadequacy, lack of teacher training, and lack of commitment from stakeholders. The study draws a conclusion for policy change and further research.

Portrait of Chemistry Teachers' Readiness in Implementing the Independent Curriculum in High Schools

This research aims to describe portrait of chemistry teachers' readiness to implement the Independent Curriculum in high schools throughout South Tangerang City. The Independent Curriculum aims to increase the relevance and quality of education in Indonesia. The research was conducted using a quantitative approach with descriptive data analysis. This research was conducted in South Tangerang City involving 56 chemistry teachers at high schools in South Tangerang City. The type of data used in this research is primary data. The instrument used to collect data in this research was a list of questions in the form of a questionnaire. The results of the research show that chemistry teachers in South Tangerang City are relatively ready to implement the independent curriculum in the schools where they teach. Researchers looked at the level of teacher readiness in implementing the independent curriculum from their knowledge regarding the characteristics and structure of the independent curriculum, readiness in planning learning, readiness in implementing learning, and readiness in implementing learning assessments. This research provides insight into the development of educational policies and the development of teacher professionalism in facing the challenges of the new curriculum.

The key reasons for dropout in Slovenian music schools - a qualitative study.

Music education often struggles to sustain students' long-term commitment, with many perceiving lessons as frustrating or unengaging, leading to discontinuation. To address this gap, our study aimed to elucidate the primary reasons for dropout from the perspectives of various stakeholders, including students, parents, teachers, and principals. Drawing upon the self-determination theory, our research comprehensively investigated external and internal factors contributing to dropout. Among external factors, competing extracurricular commitments, music theory and solfége lessons, and teacher's approach emerge as the most prominent. Among internal factors, our findings highlighted the critical role of autonomy, competency, and relatedness in shaping students' decisions to continue or discontinue music education. Inadequate teacher-student relationships, limited peer interactions, and uninspiring classroom atmospheres significantly impacted dropout. Moreover, challenges in the music school curriculum, such as difficulties with music theory and solfège, resource limitations, and excessive workloads, emerged as prominent barriers to student engagement. By addressing these multifaceted issues, our study underscores the importance of fostering supportive environments that cater to individual needs and interests, ultimately enhancing the overall music education experience and reducing dropout rates. This research represents the first systematic empirical study in Slovenian music education, laying the groundwork for future quantitative investigations to advance education practices in Slovenia.

Locating Australian school students in sites of curriculum making: a literature review

AbstractYoung people and children are central to conceptualisations of curriculum as a social process, especially in school-based settings. However, students have tended to be on the periphery of education policy development more broadly and curriculum reform more specifically. As a more inclusive approach to engaging students in curriculum consultation processes is beginning to be taken in Australia, it is timely to gauge the extent to which students are being actively engaged as curriculum actors and research participants across the Australian curricular landscape. This article draws on Priestley et al.’s (2021) sites of curriculum making model to frame a systematised literature review of a decade of Australian academic and grey literature for the purpose of identifying the sites and activities in which students are active and/or the focus of research. The review suggests there is a small body of research on curriculum negotiation within school-based nano and micro sites of curriculum making. However, an absence of academic research related to meso and macro curriculum making means we have a limited understanding of the dynamics of the activities, interactions, contestations and power relations that constitute curriculum making in these spaces in relation to students. This article considers some of the reasons for and implications of these trends, including how existing curriculum and student voice scholarship might inform future research. It argues that a better understanding of the possibilities and challenges of student-centred curriculum making activities could assist in moving beyond superficial “consultation” methods, especially during periods of significant curriculum renewal.

The two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual and gender identity curriculum in Canadian Dental Schools: What are the gaps and proposed next steps?

This study aimed to investigate gaps in the delivery of two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual and gender identity (2SLGBTQ+) curricula and identify curricular challenges within Canadian dental schools. A 21-item closed-ended questionnaire was distributed to curriculum experts across 10 dental schools in Canada. The survey questions were organized into three sections: institution characteristics, current 2SLGBTQ+ content and delivery, and opinions on the improvement of the 2SLGBTQ+ curriculum. Microsoft Excel (2020) was used to perform a descriptive analysis of the survey responses. Nine dental schools participated in the survey. All participating schools reported the offering of undergraduate, graduate, and degree completion programs. The most reported methods of teaching 2SLGBTQ+ content were 'lecture-based teaching' (n=5), 'small-group teaching' (n=4), and 'case-based discussions' (n=4). The most common topics taught were 'gender identity' (n=7) and '2SLGBTQ+ discrimination in healthcare care settings' (n=7). The topics of 'sex reassignment surgery,' 'alcohol, tobacco, or other substance use by 2SLGBTQ+ people,' '2SLGBTQ+ pediatric and adolescent oral health issues,' 'coming out,' and 'sex reassignment surgery' were not included or were unknown by the majority of dental schools (n=8). Overall, participants were unsatisfied with the level of 2SLGBTQ+-specific content covered at their institution and reported a 'lack of space within the curriculum and time constraints' as a barrier to implementation (n=8). Community-based research is needed to identify the unmet oral health needs of the 2SLGBTQ+ population, which can be translated into the development of a risk-based oral health curriculum within Canada and beyond.

PharmaCORE: Optimizing medical pharmacology education with an innovative instructional dashboard

What was the educational challenge? Diminishing emphasis on pharmacology education in medical schools has resulted in a concerning lack of prescribing knowledge among physician graduates. These concerns mirror our graduates’ expressed dissatisfaction with the structure and quality of pharmacology educational experiences over the past 5 years. What was the solution? PharmaCORE, a web-based instructional dashboard, was developed as an interactive faculty development tool to enhance integration and instruction of pharmacology content in pre-clinical curriculum at a US medical school. How was the solution implemented? PharmaCORE was introduced in Spring 2022 for instructors teaching pharmacology in the pre-clinical curriculum. Instructors used the dashboard to assess coverage of specific drug topics throughout the curriculum and to apply tailored, learner-centered teaching strategies to optimize learner engagement and comprehension. What lessons were learned that are relevant to a wider global audience? The initial assessment indicated that the dashboard was user-friendly and positively influenced instructor awareness of pharmacology content and learner-centered teaching. This faculty development approach underscores the importance of skill-based mapping and maintaining learner-centered teaching standards to address other integrated subjects and broader curricular challenges. What are the next steps? This study lays the foundation for the broader applicability of instructional dashboards in tracking and addressing curricular challenges across pharmacology and other science subjects. Future steps include more personalized feedback for instructors, creating a student-accessible version, and ongoing monitoring of maintenance measures like milestone exams.

Accessibilities and Challenges in Curriculum and Instructional Activities for Students with Visually Impairments in Gilgit Baltistan

The study aims to find the challenges and accessibility of curriculum and instructional activities of visually impaired students in Gilgit Baltistan. It adopted the qualitative approach and included the teachers of students with visual impairments from the Public Special Education Complex. Purposive sampling was used where six teachers were chosen from separate classes. Qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis. The major challenges were accessing materials, teaching Braille, and catering to the multiple learning needs of the students. However, the determination of teachers showed a high sense in changing the teaching practices so that the students who had visual impairment access the curriculum. It was found that the use of multi-sensory approaches that incorporate, for instance, the use of auditory, tactile, and kinesthetic features in a lesson to enhance learning can help in tackling the challenges which could be achieved through assistive technologies, hands-on activities, and interactive learning materials.

Non-western theorizing: the challenge of International Relations curriculum in Indonesia

Non-western theorizing: the challenge of International Relations curriculum in Indonesia

Clinical experiences of RN to BScN nursing students in Kenyan universities

Introduction and objective: Clinical learning environments play a great role in nursing training as they allow nursing students to develop their clinical skills by combining cognitive, psychomotor and affective skills. Consequently, clinical learning environments enable nursing students to bridge the theory-practice gap. Fewer studies have examined the clinical experiences of RN to BScN students in Kenya. This paper is part of analytical memo of a larger PhD study that sought to explore and describe the support needs of RN to BScN students in Kenyan universities. The paper focuses on clinical experiences of RN to BScN students.Methods: Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, ten focus group discussions were conducted with 100 RN to BScN students, purposively sampled from four universities in Kenya. Data were analyzed using Tesch’s data analysis protocol. The article has adhered to Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative studies.Results: The data on RN to BScN students’ clinical experience revealed two themes: curriculum challenges and practice environment and six sub-themes: redundant learning outcomes, redundant clinical assessments, not acknowledging prior learning, lack of clinical supervision, lack of learning resources and “an extra pair of hands”.Conclusions: The study findings highlight the need for review of clinical learning outcomes for the RN to BScN students in Kenya. The findings emphasize the need for collaborative partnerships between universities, clinical learning environments, nurse educators, and policy makers, to design of clinical learning outcomes relevant to RN to BScN students in Kenya.

Difficulties and Challenges of EFL Simultaneous Interpretation Among Saudi Undergraduates.

Many Saudi interpretation students have challenges and difficulties during thestudyof simultaneous interpreting courses. Most Saudi students encounter interpretation difficulties due to inadequate training and the adoption of traditional teaching methods. This study aimed to investigate the challenges and difficulties that undergraduate simultaneous interpretation students in Saudi Arabia encountered and suggested the best solutions to address this issue. The study followed a mixed-method research design of quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis methods to answer the research questions. The study sample was randomly selected from two Saudi universities (Najran University and King Abdul-Aziz University). Two research tools were used: a close-ended questionnaire for interpretation students and a semi-structured interview for translation professors. Responses to the questionnaire indicated that interpretation students face diverse challenges in language, curriculum, methodology, and training. Language difficulties encompassed struggles with interpreting terminology, handling long sentences, and keeping up with fast speech. Challenges related to curricula included issues of density, lack of clarity, and outdated simultaneous interpretation textbooks. Teaching method challenges were characterized by insufficient intensive training and a lack of technology-based interactive strategies. Interviews with professors highlighted additional challenges perceived by students, such as low proficiency andlack ofmotivation, expertise, background knowledge, equipmentand labs. Professors recommended the following solutions: incorporating more practical and interactive interpretation activities, updating curricular content, offering skill-based training, and adopting modern interpretation techniques, equipment, and labs.

Curriculum wars and youth political education in the UK and Australia—a narrative review

This paper discusses the questions at the heart of the tussle between different types of knowledge within curricula that we conceptualise as ‘curriculum wars’. Across the world, we see increasing instances of young people’s radicalization around axes of race, religion, and gender. Viewing these developments side by side throws into question the various local, national, and global issues shaping young people’s political education and action in liberal democracies experiencing ongoing shift away from liberal values. Through a comprehensive narrative review, we provide an overview of key themes that have been explored in recent research on curriculum, youth political education, and democracy in England and Australia. We find that young peoples’ shift away from traditional electoral (big ‘P’) politics focussed on wider socio-economic issues to an individualised (small ‘p’) politics focussed on personal experiences poses serious curricular challenges—around content and modes of political education. Young peoples’ unparalleled access to online information and digital affordances creates further need to include digital and media education within the political education curriculum. This educational challenge could prospectively be met by a curriculum that is collaborative, action-research and activist based. Such a curriculum addresses issues relevant to young people’s lived realities including topics deemed ‘controversial’ for classrooms. Such an approach requires a perspectival shift away from youth as subjects of curricular reform to youth as collaborators and knowledge workers. We argue that critical literacy offers a practical and theoretical scaffold to conceptualise transformative and progressive youth political education and political action by emphasizing the need for socially justice focussed spaces for learning, reflection and action within schools and in communities.

Harmonizing Progress: Unveiling the Evolution, Challenges, and Strategies for Sustainable Formal Music Education in Nigeria

Educating a nation is crucial for the development of society in the developing world. This study used a crosssectional survey design, employing both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Quantitative data were collected and processed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 22.0). The data were coded, entered into a computer, and summarized using frequency tables to identify errors and make necessary edits. The study included a total of 208 participants, with the findings presented as percentages. The study revealed that the number of female teachers was lower compared to male teachers, with females accounting for 45% and males for 55%. This disparity was attributed to the fact that many schools in villages had fewer female teachers, who often had spouses or lived separately in towns, resulting in limited teaching availability. Additionally, 43.4% of respondents had been in the same school for 4-7 years, while 26.6% had been in the same school for at least 10 years, suggesting a potential repetition of experiences year after year. Furthermore, 16.6% of teachers were separated and 20% were single, which could potentially interfere with their duties and impact student performance. Among the respondents, 8.4% were widowed and 5% had divorced, indicating that they had to handle everything on their own, potentially leading to less focus on their assigned duties in the classroom and resulting in poor student performance. Additionally, 50% of respondents were married, although some were not located in the same workplace as their spouses, making it challenging to concentrate on school assignments. The study emphasized the importance of equipping head teachers with leadership knowledge and skills in order to exert influence on their schools and academic work. Keywords: Formal Music Education, Nigeria, Tertiary-Level Music Programs, Primary School Music Education, Curriculum Challenges, Cultural Foundation and Sustainable Development.

Reflective Case Study of a Literacy Instructor Teaching English to Refugee Adult Learners

The United States has been the global leader resettling refugees since the 1970s; its resettlement program is the largest in the world. The state of Texas has a high number of admissions and longstanding refugee programs which makes it a strategic site for research. This article reports findings of a reflective case study within an open enrollment literacy program in Central Texas. It describes the experiences of a literacy instructor teaching English to refugee adult learners for six years. The research questions guiding the study are: (1) what are the experiences of a literacy instructor teaching English to refugee adult learners? and (2) what can other English language instructors transfer from this reflective case study to their classroom settings when teaching refugee learners? To document the case study, it was important to keep a systematic account of facts and reflection. Thus, the instructor kept a reflective journal for a semester and participated in a series of conversational storytelling interviews to generate data for the study. Thematic analysis procedures guided the data analysis process and allowed for identifying five major themes to report study findings. These are: (1) traumatic stress, (2) classroom dynamics, (3) active listening, (4) flexibility for teaching and learning, and (5) curriculum challenges. Study findings provide examples and narratives that can be useful to practitioners interested in this topic. This article is an invitation to instructors of adult refugee language learners to engage in reflection and become more aware of their teaching practices.

Challenges of competency-based curriculum in teaching learners with learning disabilities.

Zimbabwean government adopted competency-based curriculum in 2017 as a measure to prepare learners for life and work in an indigenised economy and increasingly globalised and competitive environment. The government also sought to ensure that learners develop skills necessary for lifelong learning in line with the emerging opportunities. The purpose of this study was to explore challenges faced by teachers in the implementation of competency-based curriculum to learners with learning disabilities in Mhangura of Makonde District in Zimbabwe. A constructivist lived experience perspective underpinned this research, in which a single case study was used to interact with participants on challenges faced by teachers in the implementation of competency-based curriculum to learners with learning disabilities. Purposive sampling was used to select nine participants (five males and four females). Data were collected through face-to-face interviews and transcribed verbatim. Four themes emerged from the thematic analysis of data sources. Results indicated that participants were facing several challenges in implementing competency-based curriculum to learners with learning disabilities. Among the cited challenges were negative attitudes towards learners with learning disabilities, poor teacher preparation, lack of resources and poor collaboration. The study concluded that the objectives of competency-based curriculum are noble to learners, but its implementation is not inclusive. The study findings will assist in identifying areas that need to be improved and need strengthening. The education policy makers in the country will have a better understanding of challenges faced by teachers in the implementation of competency-based curriculum in Zimbabwe.