The benefits

Dr. Park recalled that the discussions with students in the Curriculum Hackathon were so lively that “we had to peel students away from their tables” after it was done. . The student-produced curriculum proposals featured various consistent themes around early preclinical hands-on training, early research exposure and opportunities, and a stronger integration of biomedical, preclinical and research experience, prompting the faculty Redesign Task Force to reflect on how those components could be integrated into the new curriculum. Community engagement with the process promoted student buy in, a sense of ownership in the future of the institution, and attention to how students understand their needs as they complete their dental education.

“Teaching to me is not just meeting but actually driving change to meet the advances in dental education. Dental education is multidimensional: a Venn diagram of student-centeredness, assessment, and values.”

The challenges

Faculty were asked to judge the presentations and declare a winner, even while Hackathon organizers were clear with participants that the winning curriculum was not guaranteed to be implemented. Rather, the real payoff from the exercise was to serve as a large hands-on focus group. Setting these expectations upfront about the level of change students can expect was important  to harness their enthusiasm and incorporate their inputs in some way to encourage future participation, and to avoid the dynamic where students give feedback but don’t see administrators act on it. 

Takeaways and best practices

• Embrace a Student-Centered Approach.
  If the aim is to make your curriculum or course flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of a new generation of learners, ask for their input. Students are key constituents in the learning process and have a unique view of their needs. Positive student responses to change are powerful forces when implementing curriculum changes. Faculty often engage with incorporating new efforts into their classrooms when it’s clear that students are pushing for change because they see the benefits for their learning.
• Comprehensive Assessment.
  Dr. Park advocates for assessment tools that not only measure student performance but also align with the values and mission of the school. This means shifting from a purely numbers-based approach to one that is patient-centered. In the context of clinical education, a patient-centered curriculum and assessment can lead to better patient outcomes. When students are taught to focus on the patient's needs rather than just fulfilling academic requirements, they're more likely to provide high-quality, compassionate care.
• Implement with Flexibility.
  Implementing a new curriculum often involves trial and error. Being flexible and open to adjustments based on student feedback and the effectiveness of different teaching strategies is key. By tailoring the curriculum to the students' interests, students are more likely to be actively involved in their learning process, which can enhance their understanding and retention of the material.

Bottom line

When designing curricula, student voices should not be overlooked. Including them in the process provides faculty and administrators with insight into their needs and preferences to better tailor programming to a new generation of students. Engaging a larger number of students helps to better identify broad themes, rather than relying on a small set of representatives.