Responsive Curriculum Development: Which (F)Actors Support Breaking Through Institutional Barriers?

• In Event: Curriculum Development Across the Professions

Abstract

Educating for professional practice requires the responsive development of curricula to meet changing society’s demands. Yet, curriculum developers struggle with this process, and need support. In order to better understand how to support them, this study explored the different (f)actors playing a role in responsive curriculum development. Using a group concept mapping procedure, experts (N=77) generated 101 factors, sorted into six thematic clusters (e.g. stakeholder involvement, and behavior) and then rated the factors’ importance and feasibility. Analyses showed a high negative Pearson product-moment (r = -.82) between the ratings on importance and feasibility. This led to the definition of a systematic approach of support, ranging from easy to achieve factors (e.g. stakeholder involvement) to difficult to achieve factors (e.g. behavior).

Authors

• Joyce Vreuls, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences

• Slavi Stoyanov, The Open University of the Netherlands

• Mieke Koeslag, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences

• Marcel Van der Klink, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences

• Henny Boshuizen, University of Turku

• Loek F.M. Nieuwenhuis, HAN University of Applied Sciences