Formative assessment and feedback in medical education: A practical guide: AMEE Guide No. 189

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Assessment and Evaluation

Background:

• Formative assessment and feedback are vital for medical education, influencing learning and professional growth.
• Current implementation is often fragmented, relying on traditional summative methods.
• Healthcare education's shift towards competence and lifelong learning necessitates strategic formative practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide evidence-based guidelines for integrating formative assessment and feedback in medical education.
• To present a coherent framework for effective implementation.
• To address challenges and offer actionable strategies for educators.

Main Methods:

• Synthesized medical and educational literature.
• Developed a framework incorporating key assessment principles.
• Included real-world examples for practical application.

Main Results:

• A framework for continuous, objective-aligned, inclusive, valid, and timely formative assessment.
• Emphasis on peer and self-assessment, and technology-enabled feedback.
• Actionable strategies for enhancing learning and assessment literacy.

Conclusions:

• Effective integration of formative assessment and feedback is essential for developing competent and reflective healthcare professionals.
• The proposed framework offers practical guidance for educators.
• Improved assessment literacy can enhance both clinical and academic learning environments.