Presented by:
Jodi Rush
Gretchen Seif
Key Statement:
Through adopting an integrated approach, we shifted the structure and culture of the MSK curricula and improved the teaching and learning experience.
Keywords:
Integrated Curricula, Active Learning, Faculty and Learner Satisfaction
Abstract:
Aim: Integration of the Musculoskeletal DPT Curricula improves the teaching and learning experience through implementation of active learning strategies.
Methods: Provided asynchronous lecture and lab content with formative feedback prior to release of synchronous materials in learning management system. Measurements included learner surveys and comparisons of exam scores.
Results: Learners in the integrated curriculum showed increased engagement with asynchronous content and a higher mean on the final examination compared to traditional curricula learners.
Conclusions: Integrating the MSK curricula through increased active learning shifted both faculty and learner culture, resulting in increased active learning, improved exam scores , and increased course satisfaction.
Learning Outcomes:
1. Summarize the benefits of an integrated curriculum for both learner and faculty.
2. Describe multiple strategies to assist in course design or redesign for implementation of an integrated curriculum.
3. Generate an active learning strategy to incorporate into curriculum that fosters student practice.
Hear it from the author:
TRANSCRIPT:
Hello! My name is Jodie Rush. Gretchen Seif and I envisioned an educational paradigm where learning transcended textbooks and lectures and embraced active engagement. We aspired to elevate the teaching and learning experience by infusing active learning strategies within our Musculoskeletal Doctor of Physical Therapy Curricula. We also sought to change the culture from both a faculty and learner standpoint.
The DPT Musculoskeletal curricula were traditionally separate lab and lecture courses, taught by separate faculty. This led to multiple pain points:
Our method involved providing reorganized asynchronous lecture and lab content, complete with formative feedback, before the release of synchronous materials within our learning management system. This intentional sequencing was designed to empower learners to actively engage and foster a more robust understanding of the subject matter.
The outcomes were telling. Participants in our integrated curriculum demonstrated heightened engagement with asynchronous content and achieved higher average scores on final examinations compared to peers in the traditional curriculum, where they were merely instructed to complete assigned readings without feedback or accountability of release conditions.
The impact extended beyond exam metrics to a cultural shift. Through active learning, both faculty and learners experienced a positive transformation: decreasing cognitive load, improving understanding of concepts through learner engagement with material, and increasing active learning.
Join us in embracing the integration of our curricula, paving the way for a future where active learning is the cornerstone of education.
REFERENCES:
Leahy, E., Chipchase L., Calo M., & Blackstock F.C. (2020). Which Learning Activities Enhance Physical Therapist Practice? Part 1: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Quantitative Studies. Physical Therapy, 100(9), 1469-1483. DOI: 10.1093/ptj/pzaa107.
Wassinger C.A., Owens B., Boynewicz K., & Williams D.A. (2022). Flipped classroom versus traditional teaching methods within musculoskeletal physical therapy: a case report. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 38(13), 3169–3179. DOI: 10.1080/09593985.2021.1941457.
Walters A., Rowland J., & Smith M. (2023, March 1-29). Foundations in Teaching and Learning. [Course Series]. 2023 Medical University of South Carolina’s Instructional Technology and Faculty Resources, Charleston, SC, United States. https://education.musc.edu/students/itfr/events-and-course-offerings/course-offerings#foundations.
The American Council of Academic Physical Therapy (2024). American Council of Academic Physical Therapy Excellence Framework [Fact sheet]. https://acapt.org/resources/excellence/excellence-framework.