Twelve tips to afford students agency in programmatic assessment

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Professions Education
• Educational Psychology

Background:

• Programmatic assessment is increasingly adopted in health professions education for continuous appraisal.
• Challenges exist in fostering student agency due to traditional educational practices and power dynamics.
• Modernizing education requires preparing self-regulated, lifelong learners.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide actionable strategies for enhancing student agency within programmatic assessment frameworks.
• To address the cultural and practical barriers hindering student autonomy in educational settings.
• To modernize health professions education by empowering students.

Main Methods:

• The study proposes strategies including establishing student-educator partnerships.
• It emphasizes making power dynamics transparent and designing inclusive assessments.
• Leveraging artificial intelligence and fostering bidirectional feedback are also explored.

Main Results:

• Implementing these strategies can promote student autonomy and engagement.
• A cultural shift towards shared control is necessary for success.
• Empowered students become more capable, self-regulated professionals.

Conclusions:

• Affording students agency in programmatic assessment is crucial for transforming health professions education.
• This approach enhances the quality and effectiveness of educational programs.
• It better prepares students for professional practice as lifelong learners.