Article Green Open Access 2021

Approaches to mapping an undergraduate medical curriculum to a national competency-based catalogue of learning outcomes

Medical Teacher
Journal · Vol. 43 · Issue 4 · pp. 439-447
Abstract

Background: Curriculum mapping plays an increasing role in the design and implementation of competency-based medical education. We present an exemplary mapping of an institutional undergraduate medical curriculum to a national competency-based outcome framework to compare approaches to mapping procedures in their capacity to depict the relative coverage. Methods: The mapping process was performed by a small working group that continuously reconciled its findings. In step 1, we mapped the course objectives of our programme (Charité Berlin, Germany) to the National Competency-Based Catalogue of Learning Outcomes Medicine (NKLM). In step 2, we employed three primarily quantitative approaches (single, multiple, and subordinate match) and one primarily qualitative approach (content comparison) to derive the degree of NKLM coverage. Results: In step 1, we mapped a total of 4400 programme objectives to 2105 NKLM objectives. In step 2, the quantitative approaches provided a general overview of the pattern of coverage, while the qualitative approach required more effort but provided a better representation of the scope and depth of coverage. Discussion: The mapping approach chosen markedly impacts on the results how of well an institutional curriculum covers a national standard. This study highlights the need for more rigour in the methodology and reporting of curriculum mapping. © 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Keywords

Author Keywords

Competency-based education Curriculum mapping catalogue of learning outcomes undergraduate medical programme

Index Keywords

clinical competence human medical education Humans curriculum Germany competency-based education Education, Medical, Undergraduate
Author Affiliations
Dean's Office for Study Affairs, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Funding & Acknowledgements
No funding information
References 10 References
1 Al-Eyd, Ghaith, Curriculum mapping as a tool to facilitate curriculum development: A new School of Medicine experience, BMC Medical Education, 18, 1, (2018)
2 An Introduction to Proofs with Set Theory, (2020)
3 Balzer, Felix S., Development and alignment of undergraduate medical curricula in a web-based, dynamic Learning Opportunities, Objectives and Outcome Platform (LOOOP), Medical Teacher, 38, 4, pp. 369-377, (2016)
4 Ellaway, Rachel Helen, Cross-referencing the Scottish Doctor and tomorrow's doctors learning outcome frameworks, Medical Teacher, 29, 7, pp. 630-635, (2007)
5 Ellaway, Rachel Helen, Curriculum inventory: Modeling, sharing and comparing medical education programs, Medical Teacher, 36, 3, pp. 208-215, (2014)
6 Ervin, Lesley, Curriculum mapping: Not as straightforward as it sounds, Journal of Vocational Education and Training, 65, 3, pp. 309-318, (2013)
7 Fischer, Martin R., Finally finished! national competence based catalogues of learning objectives for undergraduate medical education (NKLM) and dental education (NKLZ) ready for trial, GMS Zeitschrift fur Medizinische Ausbildung, 32, 3, pp. 1-5, (2015)
8 Fritze, Olaf, Boosting competence-orientation in undergraduate medical education–A web-based tool linking curricular mapping and visual analytics, Medical Teacher, 41, 4, pp. 422-432, (2019)
9 J Chiropr Educ, (2015)
10 Harden, Ronald Mc G., AMEE Guide No. 21: Curriculum mapping: A tool for transaprent and authentic teaching and learning, Medical Teacher, 23, 2, pp. 123-137, (2001)
Quick Actions
Full Text via DOI
Citation Metrics
10
Times Cited (Scopus)

References 10
Document Identifiers