PILOT-STUDIES OF IN-COURSE ASSESSMENT FOR A REVISED MEDICAL CURRICULUM - II - COMPUTER-BASED, INDIVIDUAL

Purpose. To test a computer-based method of in-course assessment for a modular, systems-oriented medical curriculum at the University of Ota go Medical School. Method. For the in-course assessment in anatomic pa thology, 193 students completed five biweekly (i.e., every two weeks), criterion-referenced, computer-based quizzes incorporating many digit ized photographs and a variety of question formats. The students signe d up to take quizzes at any of ten available times during each quiz we ek. A score of 70% was required for passing each quiz, but the student s could retake quizzes up to two more times in alternative versions. T he students' opinions about biweekly testing and computer-based testin g were sought. Results. All 193 students satisfactorily completed the assessment program, with no significant problems with hardware, softwa re, or administration during the more than 1,000 computer-based quizze s. The students valued the biweekly quizzes as a stimulus for study an d for feedback. They strongly supported computer-based quizzes, identi fying a variety of benefits in their responses to the questionnaire. T he staff found that development of visually rich quizzes was greatly f acilitated by the use of computers. Conclusion. The study confirmed th e feasibility of using regular, computer based quizzes for in-course a ssessment of a large medical school class and demonstrated assessments of a kind that would be difficult to achieve by means other than with computers.