Andrea Webb
As the Threshold Concepts framework approaches 20 years, there is a now a significant body of work around threshold concepts in individual courses, programs, or even institutions. As The Threshold Concept website attests, there are identified Threshold Concepts in areas from Academic Identity to Zoology. However, little of this work is being applied to inform the study of curricular and pedagogical change.
In an educational context where institutions of higher education are under significant pressure to offer exceptional educational experiences, they are asking local educational leaders to make strategic decisions around programme and policy initiatives and/or changes. I believe that there is potential to push beyond investigating Threshold Concepts in individual classes and university programs and instead use Threshold Concepts to create new curriculum and pedagogy, and develop educational leaders with the expertise to drive these changes.
In 2007, Lucas and Mladenovic’s article The potential of Threshold Concepts: An emerging framework for educational research and practice identified threshold concepts as powerful tool for educational change – an opportunity for re-view and dialogue, followed by increased theorizing of threshold concepts within curriculum development (Carmichael, 2012; Land, 2011). Focusing on ‘stuck places’, Threshold Concepts can be a lens for investigating disciplines and act as a frame to consider curriculum for programs in higher education.
This keynote reflects on: What is the benefit or impact of determining Threshold Concepts in a course or program if we do not integrate these Threshold Concepts into future iterations and study the impact of this curriculum reform?
References
Carmichael, P. (2012). From this curriculum to that which is to come. NAIRTL Conference 2012, Trinity College Dublin, June 28–29, 2012.
Land, R. (2011). There could be trouble ahead: using threshold concepts as a tool of analysis. International Journal for Academic Development, 16(2), 175–178. DOI: 10.1080/1360144x.2011.568747
Threshold Concepts 