Need:
National Expectations are already being set
USMLE as single pathway for licensure
Textbook authors and publishers
Other basic and clinical science disciplines identifying physiology “needs”

Expectations are more appropriately set by a national organization of physiologists
American Physiological Society or Association of Chairs of Departments of Physiology
Opportunity to review and revise expectations

Product:
Should include expectations for content, depth, and clinical relevance
Reflect the breadth of topics to be covered
Reflect the depth of student performance expected
Recommend use of learning objective format for Histology (See appendix)

Use:
By course directors for assessing their course
Curriculum committees for identifying the role of physiology in medical student education
NBME examination item authors to identify physiology topics

Mechanism:
APS Teaching section
Coordinate project
Manage time line
Provide template and pedagogical support for constructing objectives

ACDP members
Provide one co-coordinator for each section
Work with APS co-coordinator to identify objective writers
Share drafts with course directors and other interested faculty
Ensure that feedback and evaluation of project is communicated to RGC

Section Advisory Committee and section members
Identify item writing committee 1 coordinator and 2-4 other objective writers
Determine appropriate content.
Co-coordinators will compile that section's objectives, and edit for redundancy and format
Section objectives distributed electronically to the section through APS list server
Compiled section objectives will be posted on the APS web page for comments
Edited objectives are compiled, and a working draft distributed to chairs (and through them, course directors)
Edited objectives and presented at EB '99 for member comments
Revised draft posted on APS web page, and distributed to other groups and organizations with vested interests

Project time line:

 

10/98 - 12/98	Recruit section co-coordinators and participants
12/98 - 2/99	Section objectives written and compiled
2/99 - 4/99	All objectives compiled, and edited for redundancy and format
4/99 - 6/99	Open comment period Post compiled objectives on APS web page Distribute to physiology departmental chairs and course directors
EB '99	Present to members at EB '99 meeting Cardiovascular at CV refresher course Other sections at Teaching Section poster session
8/99	Close comment period
12/99	Report to ACDP, final revisions made
4/00	Revised objectives sent to ACDP/course directors for priority ranking
10/00	Evaluations returned by 31 schools, data compiled for analysis
12/01	15 objectives deleted, final project approved at the ACDP meeting
4/02	Objectives project published