Practical session assessments in human anatomy: Weightings and performance.

Area of Science:

• Anatomy Education
• Educational Psychology

Background:

• Assessment weighting influences student motivation and study habits.
• Understanding the impact of assessment weighting on student performance is crucial for effective curriculum design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if higher weighting of practical anatomy assessments improves student performance.
• To investigate the carry-over effect of improved practical assessment performance on other module assessments and subsequent anatomy modules.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of second-year anatomy student assessment performance over four years.
• Comparison of performance metrics (average mark, pass rate) under varying assessment weightings.

Main Results:

• Increased weighting of practical assessments led to higher average marks and pass rates in those assessments.
• Significantly improved performance in end-semester written examinations within the same module.
• Demonstrated a carry-over effect on subsequent anatomy modules, enhancing performance in both practical and written assessments.

Conclusions:

• Assessment weighting significantly influences student performance in both immediate and subsequent assessments.
• Practical anatomy assessments, when weighted higher, foster deep learning skills that improve overall student efficacy.
• Deep learning skills developed through practical assessments are transferable across different anatomy assessment methods.