Research underpinning Curriculum Development in Radiography

1
Research underpinning Curriculum Development in
Radiography

• Perspectives from Norway
• by
• Agnes Vinorum Head of Studies,
• Radiography and Dental Technology

2
History in Norway a programme grounded in
current professional practice

• 1970 Negotiations with radiography/radiology
  grassroots in advance of the founding of the
  professional programme
• These negotiations have influenced the further
  development of the curriculum
• The status quo is thus written in stone
  conservatism (nurses) paternalism (doctors)
• Research is needed to reveal these old
  professional conflicts which in effect curtail
  curriculum development in radiography today
• National framework plan is perpetuated
  uncritically

3
National curriculum history

• 1st national curriculum approved by Ministry of
  Culture and Research 1989
• 2nd national curriculum approved by Ministry of
  Church, Education and Research 1997
• 3rd national curriculum approved by Education and
  Research Dep 2004
• EU descriptors in 2012?

4
National Curriculum (NC) is development
research based?

• New versions are based on earlier NCs with
  addition of new technical development
• Members of the working group for updating
  radiography curriculum discussions based on
  members own experience and beliefs
• Suggestions sent out to the radiography field of
  practice for comments
• Consensus and dialogue-based approach where is
  the research component? Cultural
  imperatives/social democratic ideal

5
Should the national framework now be based on
Dubliner Descriptors?

• Learning outcomes stressed now, rather than
  number of hours spent per modality/module
• More precise formulations now specified regarding
  knowledge, skills and competence gain.
• But what about the levels here? How will this
  affect development of the profession?

6
Is curriculum development research based? Or
evidence based?

• Curriculum development is currently based on
• National QA body, student and staff evaluations
• Technological advance in the field
• Research input to curriculum development
• Reaccreditation CPD not required formally in
  Norway
• Confusion in CD owing to a flux of pedagogical
  trends impedes progress

7
OECD recommendations to strengthen the
independent structure of tertiary intitutions

• Goal less uniformity among HE institutions in
  Norway
• Staff today more research-active (goal 25 of
  total staff) in specialised areas
• There is a need to improve the outcome indicators
• OECD suggest a wider use of discipline and
  subject review

8
Research presence/absence in Radiography CD

• Who reads articles? Rise in nos. Dr./MSc students
  both from practical field college based
• Joint Scandinavian MSc underway patient care
  focus
• CD in radiotherapy at EU level influenced by
  research on new cancer types/incidence
• This type of input is what we need to see
  happening in radiography CD
• Research is needed to show whether current
  curriculum meets current needs in the profession