WRITING CLEAR CUSTOMIZED LEARNING OUTCOMES WITH KEY UNDERPINNING KNOWLEDGE

This paper is based on Singapore Polytechnic‟s (SP) experience in implementing the CDIO approach and standards for pilot diploma courses across four academic schools. It documents the approach taken to customize CDIO to a polytechnic context. A specific focus on a chemical engineering module is used by way of example to model the systematic infusion of selected CDIO skills. In order to produce a fully aligned curriculum at module level, a subject specialist and lecturer for the module working with SP‟s Senior Education Advisor used the following approach:

• Modelling and unpacking the module syllabus to identify specific topic areas in which the infusion of selected CDIO skills (e.g., Personal Skills and Attitudes, Interpersonal Skills: Teamwork and Communication, etc) would naturally support the learning of subject content knowledge and skills
• The production of appropriate assessment items and scoring systems
• Designing the learning experience and activities to make the module as interesting and real world as possible, within the particular environmental and resource constraints.

Finally, the paper identifies the main problems and challenges faced in the curriculum innovation, the ways in which they were tackled and key lessons learned from the overall experience to date.