{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,24]],"date-time":"2026-04-24T11:51:14Z","timestamp":1777031474049,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":79,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,24]],"date-time":"2026-04-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1776988800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Med."],"abstract":"<jats:p>Contemporary medical education requires curriculum models that ensure coherence, alignment, and adaptability to rapid technological and societal changes. Van den Akker\u2019s Curricular Spider Web Model, a well-established framework in general education, has not yet been systematically applied in medical education. This conceptual paper, which employs conceptual framework analysis approach, presents the model\u2019s application as a guiding framework for curriculum design in undergraduate medical education. Rather than proposing a new theoretical model, this paper illustrates how the Spider Web can complement widely used frameworks such as Tyler\u2019s objectives-based model, Harden\u2019s SPICES framework, and Kern\u2019s Six-Step Approach. Sample applications of the model are presented at nano, micro, and meso levels, with specific attention to the integration of artificial intelligence in the curriculum. The applications indicate that the Spider Web Model provides a comprehensive and flexible structure that can guide curriculum development in medical education by promoting coherence, alignment, and stakeholder engagement. The proposed framework offers practical guidance for curriculum designers, medical educators, and academic leaders, supporting the alignment of curriculum components across nano, micro, and meso levels. It is particularly useful in contexts requiring integration of emerging domains, such as artificial intelligence, into existing curricula, facilitating coherent and adaptable curriculum development Future empirical research is needed to examine its implementation and impact on educational outcomes.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fmed.2026.1713404","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,24]],"date-time":"2026-04-24T11:28:30Z","timestamp":1777030110000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Applying Van den Akker\u2019s Spider Web Model to curriculum design in medical education: a practical guide"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"G\u00fcne\u015f","family":"Korkmaz","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul Medeniyet University","place":["\u0130stanbul, T\u00fcrkiye"]}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,24]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1002\/9781119373780","volume-title":"Understanding Medical Education. In: Understanding Medical Education: Evidence, Theory, and Practice","author":"Swanwick","year":"2018"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"494","DOI":"10.1186\/s12909-023-04471-2","article-title":"Examining the nexus between medical education and complexity: a systematic review to inform practice and research","volume":"23","author":"Ogden","year":"2023","journal-title":"BMC Med Educ"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1529","DOI":"10.1080\/0142159X.2024.2374512","article-title":"Curriculum is the road to success in medical education","volume":"46","author":"Rourke","year":"2024","journal-title":"Med Teach"},{"key":"ref4","volume-title":"Y\u00fcksek\u00f6\u011fretimde proje tabanl\u0131 e\u011fitim programlar\u0131n\u0131n incelenmesi: T\u00fcrk \u00dcniversiteleri i\u00e7in kavramsal bir model \u00f6nerisi [dissertation]","author":"Korkmaz","year":"2019"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1126\/science.32.810.41","volume-title":"Medical Education in the United States and Canada: A Report to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching","author":"Flexner","year":"1910"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"186","DOI":"10.1016\/j.shpsa.2024.05.019","article-title":"The pragmatist roots of scientific medicine: reassessing Abraham Flexner\u2019s report on medical education","volume":"106","author":"Heinbokel","year":"2024","journal-title":"Stud Hist Phil Sci"},{"key":"ref7","first-page":"1","article-title":"The impact of the Flexner report on the fate of medical schools in North America after 1909","volume":"8","author":"Hiatt","year":"2003","journal-title":"J Am Phys Surg"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"145","DOI":"10.7899\/1042-5055-24.2.145","article-title":"100 years after the Flexner report: reflections on its influence on chiropractic education","volume":"24","author":"Johnson","year":"2010","journal-title":"J Chiropr Educ"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"S1","DOI":"10.1080\/0142159X.2021.1935833","article-title":"Realizing the vision of the lancet commission on education of health professionals for the 21st century: transforming medical education through the accelerating change in medical education consortium","volume":"43","author":"Skochelak","year":"2021","journal-title":"Med Teach"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"97","DOI":"10.1111\/medu.15472","article-title":"The social construction of time and its influence on medical education","volume":"59","author":"Wyatt","year":"2025","journal-title":"Med Educ"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"ii21","DOI":"10.1093\/eurpub\/ckae178","article-title":"Competency-based and problem-based learning methodologies: the WHO and ISS European public health leadership course","volume":"35","author":"Barbina","year":"2025","journal-title":"Eur J Pub Health"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"182","DOI":"10.1016\/S0260-6917(99)80003-3","article-title":"Problem-based learning in a competency-based world","volume":"19","author":"Bechtel","year":"1999","journal-title":"Nurse Educ Today"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"28","DOI":"10.3109\/01421590903200789","article-title":"Problem-based learning in pre-clinical medical education: 22 years of outcome research","volume":"32","author":"Hartling","year":"2010","journal-title":"Med Teach"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"365","DOI":"10.1007\/s40670-016-0255-6","article-title":"Design considerations for an integrated, problem-based curriculum","volume":"26","author":"Bridges","year":"2016","journal-title":"Med Sci Educ"},{"key":"ref15","first-page":"70","article-title":"Towards a theoretical framework for curriculum development in health professional education","volume":"14","author":"Lee","year":"2013","journal-title":"Focus Health Prof Educ"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1080\/2331186X.2024.2329367","article-title":"Curriculum mapping evaluation of a Tyler model designed physiotherapy curriculum of the Baptist Institute of Health Science in Cameroon","volume":"11","author":"Mobit","year":"2024","journal-title":"Cogent Educ"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"294","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tate.2006.12.017","article-title":"Curriculum development in medical education: from acronyms to dynamism","volume":"23","author":"Prideaux","year":"2007","journal-title":"Teach Teach Educ"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1923","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(10)61854-5","article-title":"Health professionals for a new century: transforming education to strengthen health systems in an interdependent world","volume":"376","author":"Frenk","year":"2010","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"ref19","volume-title":"Basic Principles of Curriculum and Instruction","author":"Tyler","year":"1949"},{"key":"ref20","volume-title":"From Individual Intuition to Collective design: Teacher Involvement in an Emerging Curriculum project [thesis]","author":"Bryant","year":"2004"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"284","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2923.1984.tb01024.x","article-title":"Some educational strategies in curriculum development: the SPICES model","volume":"18","author":"Harden","year":"1984","journal-title":"Med Educ"},{"key":"ref22","volume-title":"An Integrated Learning Curriculum for Radiography in South Africa [Dissertation]","author":"Engel-Hills","year":"2005"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"551","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1365-2923.2000.00697.x","article-title":"The integration ladder: a tool for curriculum planning and evaluation","volume":"34","author":"Harden","year":"2000","journal-title":"Med Educ"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"312","DOI":"10.3109\/0142159X.2014.970998","article-title":"The integrated curriculum in medical education: AMEE guide no. 96","volume":"37","author":"Brauer","year":"2015","journal-title":"Med Teach"},{"key":"ref25","first-page":"891","article-title":"Frame factors for implementation of integrated curriculum in public sector medical college \u2013 faculty\u2019s perspective","volume":"66","author":"Khan","year":"2016","journal-title":"Pak Armed Forces Med J"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"778","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2923.2008.03110.x","article-title":"Lessons learned about integrating a medical school curriculum: perceptions of students, faculty and curriculum leaders","volume":"42","author":"Muller","year":"2008","journal-title":"Med Educ"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.3126\/jucms.v10i01.47250","article-title":"Methodologies and models for integration of medical curriculum for effective teaching and learning: a theoretical review","volume":"10","author":"Kasarla","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Univ Coll Med Sci"},{"key":"ref28","first-page":"122","article-title":"Design and implementation of an integrated medication management curriculum in an entry-to-practice doctor of pharmacy program","volume":"16","author":"Loewen","year":"2016","journal-title":"Pharm Educ"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"446","DOI":"10.1186\/s12909-021-02878-3","article-title":"Medical educators\u2019 beliefs about learning goals, teaching, and assessment in the context of curriculum changes: a qualitative study conducted at an Iranian medical school","volume":"21","author":"Karami","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMC Med Educ"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.56021\/9781421444116","volume-title":"Curriculum Development for Medical Education: a six-step Approach","author":"Thomas","year":"2022"},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.56021\/9780801858444","volume-title":"Curriculum Development for Medical Education: a six-step Approach","author":"Kern","year":"1998"},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1152","DOI":"10.1186\/s12909-024-06143-1","article-title":"RE-AIM evaluation of accreditation process in Turkey","volume":"24","author":"Alt\u0131nta\u015f","year":"2024","journal-title":"BMC Med Educ"},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"96","DOI":"10.1111\/medu.13394","article-title":"Coordinating medical education and health care systems: the power of the social accountability approach","volume":"52","author":"Boelen","year":"2018","journal-title":"Med Educ"},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"110","DOI":"10.1186\/s12909-019-1535-9","article-title":"Medical education today: all that glitters is not gold","volume":"19","author":"Buja","year":"2019","journal-title":"BMC Med Educ"},{"key":"ref35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"582","DOI":"10.1080\/0142159X.2017.1315066","article-title":"Toward a shared language for competency-based medical education","volume":"39","author":"Englander","year":"2017","journal-title":"Med Teach"},{"key":"ref36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1007\/978-981-15-3344-0_2","volume-title":"Clinical Education for the Health Professions: Theory and Practice","author":"Greenhill","year":"2023"},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1418","DOI":"10.1097\/ACM.0b013e3182a36a07","article-title":"Just imagine: new paradigms for medical education","volume":"88","author":"Mehta","year":"2013","journal-title":"Acad Med"},{"key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"223","DOI":"10.1080\/0142159x.2020.1841889","article-title":"Social accountability: a national framework for Turkish medical schools","volume":"43","author":"Sayek","year":"2021","journal-title":"Med Teach"},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1086","DOI":"10.1111\/medu.12831","article-title":"Implementation of competency-based medical education: are we addressing the concerns and challenges?","volume":"49","author":"Hawkins","year":"2015","journal-title":"Med Educ"},{"key":"ref40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1544","DOI":"10.1080\/0142159X.2024.2409283","article-title":"Shaping minds and hearts in medical education: embedding and implementing a personal and professional development curriculum","volume":"46","author":"Skinner","year":"2024","journal-title":"Med Teach"},{"key":"ref41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"45","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-030-77673-2","volume-title":"Online Postgraduate Education in a Postdigital World","author":"Fawns","year":"2021"},{"key":"ref42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1132","DOI":"10.1111\/jep.13359","article-title":"Using outcome harvesting: assessing the efficacy of CBME implementation","volume":"26","author":"Railer","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Eval Clin Pract"},{"key":"ref43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"331","DOI":"10.1097\/ACM.0b013e3180334ada","article-title":"Lessons from industry: one school\u2019s transformation toward \u201clean\u201d curricular governance","volume":"82","author":"Stratton","year":"2007","journal-title":"Acad Med"},{"key":"ref44","first-page":"113","volume-title":"Routledge International Handbook of Medical Education","author":"Harden","year":"2015"},{"key":"ref45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1007\/978-94-017-1205-7","volume-title":"Curriculum Landscapes and Trends","author":"den Van Akker","year":"2003"},{"key":"ref46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"64","DOI":"10.1186\/1741-7015-7-64","article-title":"Transforming medical professionalism to fit changing health needs","volume":"7","author":"Plochg","year":"2009","journal-title":"BMC Med"},{"key":"ref47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"483","DOI":"10.1007\/s11845-010-0541-z","article-title":"A practical guide to using the world Federation for Medical Education standards. WFME 1: mission and objectives","volume":"179","author":"MacCarrick","year":"2010","journal-title":"Ir J Med Sci"},{"key":"ref48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"38","DOI":"10.1080\/0142159X.2024.2351215","article-title":"Competency-based medical education guidelines are context-based: lessons from national guidelines in five countries","volume":"46","author":"Matsuyama","year":"2024","journal-title":"Med Teach"},{"key":"ref49","author":"Th\u00fcrmann","year":"2006"},{"key":"ref50","volume-title":"Foundational Competencies for Undergraduate Medical Education","year":"2024"},{"key":"ref51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"97","DOI":"10.5281\/zenodo.14546297","article-title":"Introduction to assessment in medical education","volume":"1","author":"Alimo\u011flu","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Med Educ Fam Med"},{"key":"ref52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.4159\/9780674028999","volume-title":"The Process of Education","author":"Bruner","year":"1960"},{"key":"ref53","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"141","DOI":"10.1080\/01421599979752","article-title":"What is a spiral curriculum?","volume":"21","author":"Harden","year":"1999","journal-title":"Med Teach"},{"key":"ref54","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"125","DOI":"10.3109\/01421599509008301","article-title":"AMEE medical education guide no. 5: the core curriculum with options or special study modules","volume":"17","author":"Harden","year":"1995","journal-title":"Med Teach"},{"key":"ref55","volume-title":"Curriculum: Foundations, Principles, and Issues","author":"Ornstein","year":"2018"},{"key":"ref56","first-page":"1","volume-title":"Literacy Skills in Education","author":"Korkmaz","year":"2021"},{"key":"ref57","volume-title":"E\u011fitimde Program geli\u015ftirme","author":"Demirel","year":"2007"},{"key":"ref58","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"334","DOI":"10.1080\/014215900409429","article-title":"AMEE guide no. 20: the good teacher is more than a lecturer \u2013 the twelve roles of the teacher","volume":"22","author":"Harden","year":"2000","journal-title":"Med Teach"},{"key":"ref59","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.25282\/ted.1447559","article-title":"Analyzing medical students\u2019 educational needs for web-based escape room design","volume":"23","author":"Korkmaz","year":"2024","journal-title":"T\u0131p E\u011fitimi D\u00fcnyas\u0131"},{"key":"ref60","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100364","DOI":"10.1016\/j.edurev.2020.100364","article-title":"Escape education: a systematic review on escape rooms in education","volume":"31","author":"Veldkamp","year":"2020","journal-title":"Educ Res Rev"},{"key":"ref61","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"36","DOI":"10.1186\/s12909-019-1462-9","article-title":"Medical students: what educational resources are they using?","volume":"19","author":"Wynter","year":"2019","journal-title":"BMC Med Educ"},{"key":"ref62","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1177\/23821205251320150","article-title":"Evaluating the use of artificial intelligence as a study tool for preclinical medical school exams","volume":"12","author":"Sakelaris","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Med Educat Curri Develop"},{"key":"ref63","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1177\/23821205241264695","article-title":"Exploring the usage of ChatGPT among medical students in the United States","volume":"11","author":"Zhang","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Med Educat Curri Develop"},{"key":"ref64","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"152","DOI":"10.1186\/s12909-024-06585-7","article-title":"Medical student experiences of case-based learning at a multicultural medical school","volume":"25","author":"Bruen","year":"2025","journal-title":"BMC Med Educ"},{"key":"ref65","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"238","DOI":"10.1186\/s12909-021-02638-3","article-title":"Scaffolding medical student knowledge and skills: team-based learning and case-based learning","volume":"21","author":"Burgess","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMC Med Educ"},{"key":"ref66","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1519","DOI":"10.1186\/s12909-024-06476-x","article-title":"Beyond autonomy: unpacking self-regulated and self-directed learning through the lens of learner agency \u2013 a scoping review","volume":"24","author":"Gupta","year":"2024","journal-title":"BMC Med Educ"},{"key":"ref67","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1398","DOI":"10.1111\/bjet.13459","article-title":"Self-regulation and shared regulation in collaborative learning in adaptive digital learning environments: a systematic review of empirical studies","volume":"55","author":"Sharma","year":"2024","journal-title":"Br J Educ Technol"},{"key":"ref68","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"143","DOI":"10.1097\/ACM.0000000000004372","article-title":"Use of established guidelines when reporting on interprofessional team-based learning in health professions student education: a systematic review","volume":"97","author":"Burgess","year":"2022","journal-title":"Acad Med"},{"key":"ref69","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"325","DOI":"10.1186\/s12909-022-03372-0","article-title":"How does interprofessional education influence students' perceptions of collaboration in the clinical setting? A qualitative study","volume":"22","author":"Teuwen","year":"2022","journal-title":"BMC Med Educ"},{"key":"ref70","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"189","DOI":"10.1186\/s12909-023-04132-4","article-title":"mHealth and e-learning in health sciences curricula: a south African study of health sciences staff perspectives on utilisation, constraints and future possibilities","volume":"23","author":"Noorbhai","year":"2023","journal-title":"BMC Med Educ"},{"key":"ref71","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1459","DOI":"10.1097\/ACM.0b013e3181b6c5d7.","article-title":"Canada's new medical school: the northern Ontario School of Medicine: social accountability through distributed community engaged learning","volume":"84","author":"Strasser","year":"2009","journal-title":"Acad Med"},{"key":"ref72","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"58","DOI":"10.1080\/0142159X.2019.1652258","article-title":"Minimal effects of reduced teaching hours on undergraduate medical student learning outcomes and course evaluations","volume":"42","author":"Choi-Lundberg","year":"2020","journal-title":"Med Teach"},{"key":"ref73","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"285","DOI":"10.1111\/medu.13761","article-title":"Assessing student academic time use: assumptions, predictions and realities","volume":"53","author":"Zeeman","year":"2019","journal-title":"Med Educ"},{"key":"ref74","volume-title":"Raamplan: Medical Training Framework 2020","year":"2020"},{"key":"ref75","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"49","DOI":"10.1177\/160940690900800406","article-title":"Building a conceptual framework: philosophy, definitions, and procedure","volume":"8","author":"Jabareen","year":"2009","journal-title":"Int J Qual Methods"},{"key":"ref76","article-title":"Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada","year":"2015","journal-title":"CanMEDS Frameworks"},{"key":"ref77","article-title":"Core entrustable professional activities for entering residency: summary of the 10-school pilot, 2014\u20132021","author":"Amiel","year":"2022","journal-title":"AAMC"},{"key":"ref78","article-title":"Foundational competencies for undergraduate medical education. AAMC, AACOM, ACGME","year":"2024"},{"key":"ref79","year":"2010","journal-title":"Framework for action on interprofessional education and collaborative practice"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Medicine"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fmed.2026.1713404\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,24]],"date-time":"2026-04-24T11:28:36Z","timestamp":1777030116000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fmed.2026.1713404\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,24]]},"references-count":79,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fmed.2026.1713404"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fmed.2026.1713404","relation":{},"ISSN":["2296-858X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2296-858X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,24]]},"article-number":"1713404"}}