Redesigning Assessments: A Journey Towards Authentic Assessment
In December 2023, programme leaders teamed up with Iria Lopez, Senior Designer and Dr Allie Mills, Academic Development Consultant from Learning Design Agency to refine the educational experience for Physicians Associates students. Together, they embarked on a journey to revamp the programme’s assessment methods. This collaborative effort was sparked by the introduction of new regulatory requirements, prompting a careful review of the curriculum’s core elements.
The core of this project wasn’t just about complying with regulations but emphasising authenticity in assessments. By having the right stakeholders in the room, they could tackle this challenge.
01. Discovery Phase
During the first phase, they looked at things from a systems perspective, this is an approach to problem solving which considers the overall system as well as its individual parts. They considered what students had to say, alongside placement supervisors, alumni, and academics. These groups of stakeholders were interviewed about their experiences and insights. This allowed them to see assessments as part of a bigger journey, progressing beyond the initial questions asked to them.
Some of the insights found included:
- Many students value current peer-to-peer teaching practices as a source of learning.
- Some students feel confused about what each assessment is trying to achieve and how that relates to their future.
- There is a large workload associated with assessments for both academics and students.
This information helped to understand how assessments could be improved.
02. Definition Phase
Alumni and academics were invited to join in a design sprint, the team were provided with a list of questions based on insights. These questions helped them focus their ideas, prioritize what to address first, and align their efforts effectively.
Examples of questions used:
- How might we use assessment to support students’ confidence?
- How might we align practice teaching with clinical placement (especially in year 1)?
- How might we help students have a clearer understanding of purpose?
03. Ideation and Prototyping
Groups came up with many ideas based on their chosen questions, turning them into concepts outlining the step by step student experience. They used storyboards, which are used to bring ideas to life as a prototype.
This method helped teams see assessment as a learning journey, not just a single event. It allowed them to dive into how students would experience learning and assessment activities. Some of the prototypes that teams developed can be seen below.
What’s Next for the team?
The Physician Associate Studies programme leads used the storyboards from the sprint to align their teams around the student experience, including assessment. These storyboards gave a clearer idea of their shared goals. The success of this project marks a mindset change. This started by seeing the student experience as a journey, and it helped align academics around a common vision to improve this experience.
The Physician Associate Studies team is now working to develop their prototypes to improve their assessment and, working within the guidelines of new regulatory requirements. The prototypes they are working towards include:
- Making assessment methods more authentic and engaging by using alternative formats such as podcasts, posters or presentations
- Implement the new professional portfolio and new learning outcomes into assessment
- Providing the opportunity to work in an interdisciplinary team with other professionals that students would collaborate with in real work settings as a Physician Associate, developing their identity and professional behaviours.
In conclusion, the collaborative effort between programme leaders, the Learning Design Agency, and stakeholders set the stage for a transformative journey in refining assessment methods for Physician Associate students. By embracing authenticity and a student-centered approach, this initiative seeks to enhance the educational experience. Moving forward, the focus remains on implementing their innovative prototypes, and ensuring alignment with regulatory guidelines. This project not only marks a shift in mindset but also signifies a commitment to continuous improvement in education.
Want to understand more about Design Sprints at Leeds? Read this blog A burst of energy! Design Sprints at Leeds | by Leeds Educators | Leeds Educators Present | Medium
Enquire about a design sprint or design thinking activities by emailing learningdesign@leeds.ac.uk.
