Embracing Disruption: Curriculum Reform & Community Building During a Pandemic

This presentation will provide an opportunity to reflect on the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had in higher education by examining the positive outcomes of the rapid deployment to online programming on the development and delivery of the MD program at Western University. Although, like most university programs, the pandemic caused unprecedented disruption for our learners, faculty and staff, this disruption had some surprising benefits.

The MD program was in the midst of a curriculum renewal in March 2020 when all university courses were transitioned to online delivery. Some aspects of the renewed curriculum presented more challenges than anticipated and were not fully implemented when the program launched, in part due to a lack of community cohesion. However, the pandemic offered an opportunity to make deliberate changes to the delivery of content that allowed us to revitalize and reinforce the ongoing curriculum reform. This transition also laid the foundation for a stronger community of practice as the work of designing, developing and delivering content in a restricted  timespan required ongoing and purposeful collaboration between community members .

Throughout the session, there will be opportunities for discussion on the lasting impacts of COVID-19 on curriculum in higher education.