JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Self-regulated learning (SRL) is a vital competency, desirable to sustain lifelong learning in health professions education. Contemporary education practices emphasize this aspect of undergraduate medical education through innovative designs of teaching and learning like the flipped classroom and team-based learning. Assessment as learning (AaL) can be a unique way to inculcate SRL through active learning habits. It charges the student to create formative assessments reinforcing student-centered deep learning, and critical thinking.

Objective:

This study aims to explore, from the learners’ perspective, the feasibility and perceived learning impact of student generated formative assessments.

Methods:

The study relied on a convergent mixed methods approach to research. An educational intervention was deployed on a cohort of students in the second year of a six-year undergraduate medical program as part of a single course curriculum delivery. This AaL intervention engaged students in generating assessments using peer-collaboration, tutor facilitation, and feedback. Quantitative and qualitative data of student perceptions were collected through a survey. Quantitative survey data was analysed using SPSS. Qualitative inputs underwent thematic analysis.

Results:

Students’ overall score of satisfaction with the AaL educational intervention was 84%. On quantitative analysis, this was strongly correlated with scores for ease and impact on a 5-point Likert-type scale. The themes that emerged from the qualitative analysis, included: prominent characteristics, immediate gains, and expected long-term benefits of their engagement. The prominent characteristics included individuals’ engagement, effective interdependencies, novelty, and time requirement. The identified immediate gains highlighted increased motivation, and acquisition of knowledge and skills. The expected long-term benefits, included critical thinking and problem solving, and clinical reasoning.

Conclusions:

As a form of AaL, student-generated assessments were perceived as viable, constructive, and a stimulating educational exercise by the student-authors. In the short term, the activity provided students a fun, challenging opportunity to deep dive into the content, be creative in designing questions, and improve exam-taking skills. In the long-term students expected an enhancement of critical thinking, and inculcation of student-centred attributes of self-regulated lifelong learning and peer collaboration, vital to the practice of medicine.