Background
When analyzing the presented curriculum for training in physical therapy, an aspect was highlighted that requires transformation and attention. Thus, it was determined that insufficient hours are allocated to the Pediatrics course and patient management in this department. The importance of this part of the curriculum is that a physical therapist needs to be able to work with patients of any age, adults, and children (“Physical therapy and kids: what you need to know,” n.d.). Therefore, this section of the educational program requires revision and reconsideration regarding such aspects as time, personnel, facilities, and funding.
Curriculum Transformation
When preparing a proposal for the curriculum transformation, consultation with significant internal and external stakeholders is of value. Conducting discussions and getting an opinion on changes from this party determines the need and progress of implementing the proposed initiative (Gouëdard et al., 2020; Mielikäinen, 2022). Thus, as part of this process, a consultation was held with the participants of the Curriculum Committee for an educational program in the Physical Therapy Department in the first place. This provided an opportunity to realize the value of the proposed intervention. After that, negotiations were held with the university president to obtain their approval.
The central part of the proposed transformation was the appeal to Pediatrics and patient management as part of the curriculum of the educational facility. It is proposed that the number of hours be increased, focusing on increasing students’ knowledge about working with underage patients. Moreover, this aspect also includes increased practice hours in clinical experience. Thus, it is proposed to add 15 hours, 5 hours for theoretical training, and 10 hours for practical training.
It is assumed that the tuition will remain the same size as that previously established in the educational institution. Regarding the staff, it should also remain the same; however, it is possible to attract medical professionals during the clinical experience. Working with more experienced specialists is valuable as it allows for gaining additional knowledge and nuances about the work and their enrichment (Kallail et al., 2020). A sample syllabus for the course will be provided in a separate letter.
An important consideration of the anticipated obstacles that need to be overcome may be the inability to add additional hours due to the program being overloaded. In this case, conducting a curriculum analysis and identifying subjects that can be reduced in time is crucial. Another obstacle may be the lack of specialists who can work with students in clinical practice. The solution to the problem may be a premature consultation with a medical facility and finding out about the availability of professionals.
Funding Request
An important step in the development of a new curriculum is the definition of the proposed implementation timeline. The new course will begin with the new academic year. The curriculum requires an extra $3,000 per year to attract this specialist.
Moreover, additional fees will be required for medical professionals and the hospital where students will practice. Thus, we ask for additional funding of $6,000 to be provided to the Curriculum Committee three months before the start of the academic year. This aspect will provide an opportunity to purchase the necessary materials and equipment and conclude contracts with a professor and a medical institution.
References
Gouëdard, P., Pont, B., Hyttinen, S., & Huang, P. (2020). Curriculum reform: A literature review to support effective implementation. OECD Education Working Papers, (239). Web.
Kallail, K. J., Shaw, P., Hughes, T., & Berardo, B. (2020). Enriching medical student learning experiences. Journal of Medical Education and Curricular Development, 7. Web.
Mielikäinen, M. (2022). Towards blended learning: Stakeholders’ perspectives on a project-based integrated curriculum in ICT engineering education. Industry and Higher Education, 36(1), 74-85. Web.
Physical therapy and kids: what you need to know. (n.d.). OSPTR. Web.