VIDEO: Dutch world champion in tests visited Health
At Maastricht University, they have good experiences from using programmatic assessment and feedback to the students on the medical degree programme. One of the people behind this approach is a Dutch professor of education who visited Health and talked about how there is also evidence that this approach works better.
Directors of studies, course managers and staff from the studies administration were assembled for a workshop on 9 May that would provide new knowledge and inspiration from one of the world's leading professors in programmatic assessment, Cees van der Vleuten from Maastricht University. Here they have completely done away with the traditional model, where lecturers present their knowledge and subsequently test how well the material has been picked up by the students. Research actually shows that this is not the best way to learn.
Instead Maastricht University uses mentors, provides feedback and continually asks the medical students to reflect on the feedback they receive. They also test the students every third month throughout all six years of the medical degree programme – what is known as a progress test – which shows whether the students are on the right track in terms of acquiring the core knowledge required of a medical graduate. Despite the 24 tests in total, the students are enthusiastic. In addition, students are never assessed on the basis of a single result and are only awarded ECTS credits once a year.
Listen to a couple of the points made by Professor Cees van der Vleuten on programmatic assessment.
Contact
Vice-dean for Education Charlotte Ringsted
Aarhus University, Health
Mobile: (+45) 9350 8222
Email: charlotte.ringsted@au.dk