Attachment 2B - 2

Attachment 2B- 2

Guidelines for Course Directors

Course Review Process

The following questions will help complete the course review process. Questions are organized around the major criteria in the EPC policy.   They are not meant to be inclusive, but should serve as prompts to consider in your self-study.  Feel free to include others that are relevant to the overall review process and are important to the understanding of the educational experience.

1.   An explanation of the student outcomes (objectives) for the course.

1.1.    List the current course goals and objectives

1.2.    Do the objectives inform the expected student outcomes?

1.3.    Are objectives specified for each instructional session?

1.4.    How are and when are students informed of the course goals and objectives?

1.5.    How and when are course faculty informed of the course goals and objectives?

2.   A description of the course content, structure and management

2.1.    Provide a graphic depiction of the course as it fits into the curriculum year.

2.2.    Give a brief description of the major content areas of the course.

2.3.    How were these major areas selected for inclusion?  How does this compare to national or criteria from other institutions?

2.4.    What is the course length (weeks/hours) during the last review period?

2.5.    What is the number of hours (or proportion of hours) allocated to each content area?

2.6.    How is the quality and appropriateness of course content monitored?

2.7.    What steps are taken to coordinate the content of the course to minimize omissions and redundancies?

2.8.    What steps are taken to coordinate content with other courses during its instructional block or during the academic year?

2.9.    What independent learning activities (outside of class) are regularly scheduled for learners? How are these assigned?

3.      An analysis of the methods of instruction.

3.1.    What are the different learning methods?

3.2.    How are these methods appropriate to meeting the course goals / student outcomes?

3.3.    If your course is clinically based, how is patient mix monitored?

4.      A description of the assessment system used to determine student success in meeting the intended course goals, including data that support this success.

4.1.    What (different) assessment tools are used during the course?

4.2.    What are their intended uses? 

4.3.    How many formal examinations are given throughout the course?

4.4.    Is a final examination given and is it comprehensive?

4.5.    Are there other means used to assess student progress? Describe.

4.6.    What is the relative weight given to each examination or assessment?

4.7.    Are students provided with a formal mid-course evaluation of their progress?  What is that process?

4.8.    How are assessment procedure results checked for congruence with course objectives, as well as the reliability of these results?

4.9.    How is information about student performance collected and conveyed to the course director?

4.10.What external assessment measures have you used to calibrate student success (USLME, Shelf Exams)? Include this data.

5.      A description of the methods used for course evaluation.

5.1.    Describe the different methods used for evaluating the successfulness of the course.

5.2.    How is this information used? How is it conveyed to participating faculty?

5.3.    Summarize the student evaluations for the course over the past review period.

5.4.    What other sources of course evaluation data do you use  (i.e. EPC course review committee, AAMC exit survey, student focus groups or surveys from previous classes)? Please provide these, when applicable

5.5.    What happens when faculty receive consistently poor evaluations?

6.      An outline of resources required to deliver the curriculum, including areas such as faculty effort, instructional support, materials and space.  Issues/inadequacies related to these should be highlighted.

7.      A clear statement of the vision for the course during the next review cycle, including any outstanding barriers to the successful delivery of the course.

8.      An overview of any educational scholarship activities (research, presentations, etc.) conducted during the previous review period and ideas or formal proposals, if any, for conducting future scholarship activities.