EVALUATING STUDENT PERFORMANCE IN THE EXPERIENTIAL SETTING WITH CONFIDENCE

This paper proposes that pharmacy schools should have a functional exp eriential evaluation system (EES). An EES consists of multiple assessm ent methods, guidelines for their optimal use, and procedures that pro mote faculty-student communication about performance. With respect to selection of assessment methods, pharmacy educators are encouraged to adopt the combination of observation-based ratings. Objective Structur ed Clinical Exams (OSCEs), and examinations consisting of Extended Mat ching Items (EMIs). Practical strategies an individual instructor may use to enhance the accuracy of observation-based ratings and examinati ons are described. With respect to OSCEs, the authors call for collabo rative efforts among consortia schools in concert with the Center for the Advancement of Pharmaceutical Education (CAPE). At the school leve l,the entire faculty must be accountable for maintaining a quality EES that promotes faculty-student communication about performance. Only a fter implementation of a comprehensive quality EES can a school's facu lty feel confident in decisions about students' preparedness to delive r pharmaceutical care.