Combining assessment for learning and assessment of learning in one Assessment Program: is it possible?

Abstract

Background: Assessment at the clinical workplace is challenging. Both feedback and high stake decisions are needed for students to develop their performance and to ensure they are ready for ‘practice’. Summary of work: An assessment program was developed combining high quality feedback and robust and defensible decision making on students’ performance by use of a new generation web-based e-portfolio. This type of portfolio facilitates the active collection of feedback using digital versions of the developed instruments. Meaningful aggregation of all single instruments takes place at the competency level and high stake decisions are made by a judging committee. The longitudinal performance growth per competency domain is measured. Summary of results: Positive evaluation is on the quality of feedback students receive and the feasibility of the eportfolio. Screening of the portfolio at the competency level demonstrated that it is possible to make robust judgments of the individual student. Observation still remains difficult for all competency domains in the clinics.