A new holistic way of assessment: programmatic assessment

Abstract

Programmatic assessment is a holistic view on assessment since it considers the full assessment program as a focus. Deliberate choices are being made on methods of assessment, their arrangement in time and purpose. Each moment of assessment is considered to be one single data point. Any decision on a single data point is fl awed and therefore pass/fail decisions are not being made. A single data point will only give quantitative or qualitative feedback relevant for learning. The follow-up of feedback, e.g. in learning objectives and refl ective activities, learners are mentored by staff members. Decisions on learner progress are made when suffi cient data points are being gathered and when the information is clear. Decision-making is done by committees and due process measures are taken to make these decisions robust. Programmatic assessment fi ts to a modern constructivist view on learning.

Exploring the Impact of Entrustable Professional Activities on Feedback Culture: A Qualitative Study of Anesthesiology Residents and Attendings

“…This result is particularly noteworthy with respect to a major problem of WPBA, namely, that residents only ask for assessments when they have performed well, as they are aiming for higher ratings, instead of being assessed on an average performance and seeing it as a learning opportunity. 14,30,40 Referring to van der Vleuten’s metaphor for programmatic assessment as a pixelated picture, 41,42 feedback on average performances could help to build a clearer and more comprehensive picture of the trainee’s competence, whereas exceptional performances only help to define the edges of the picture. Furthermore, more feedback given on average performances could even help deliver the promise of programmatic assessment by assembling a holistic picture of competence for robust summative decision making.…”