Implementation of a Curriculum Management Tool: Challenges Faced by a Large Australian University


  •  Jennifer Lai    
  •  Leigh Wood    
  •  Mauricio Marrone    

Abstract

This paper describes how a large Australian university implemented a new curriculum management tool ? UNITS. UNITS is an online repository of unit guides and a curriculum mapping tool. We analyze the advantages of using a university-wide curriculum management tool and the change management processes used to develop the bespoke tool. Staff development in the use of the tool has led to more thoughtful use of learning and teaching activities and better linking of learning outcomes with assessment. To ensure a smooth transition, faculty were supported throughout the process of implementation. Drop-in clinics, video clips, discipline-specific implementation guides as well as a UNITS help page were provided. This paper contributes to the understanding of the challenges in setting up and implementing a large-scale curriculum management tool in a university. Challenges including increased workload, intellectual property concerns, impact on academic freedom and technological issues are discussed.


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.