Integrating Quiz-Based Self-Assessment Into a Microbiology Practical Course: Effects on Student Perception and...

Practical courses in medical microbiology aim to translate theory into hands-on skills, but students often struggle to link laboratory techniques with diagnostic procedures. Formative testing and self-assessment enhance knowledge retention and metacognitive awareness. This study aims to integrate quiz-based self-assessment using an audience response system (OnlineTED) into a microbiological practical course to evaluate feasibility and explore whether quiz-based self-assessment is associated with differences in students' perceived learning outcomes, satisfaction, and engagement.

Medical students (n = 125) in their first clinical year participated in a diagnostic practical at Saarland University in 2023/24. Two cohorts were compared: an intervention group using OnlineTED-based quizzes during each course day and a control group without quizzes. Standardized evaluations assessed satisfaction, clarity of objectives, perceived workload, and learning outcomes in both cohorts.

Overall evaluations were very high in both groups. No statistically significant differences were observed between groups, likely reflecting a ceiling effect. Descriptive differences in the distribution of top ratings were observed in favor of the quiz cohort: more students awarded the top rating for clarity of learning objectives (57.9% vs 28.6%), relevance for the final exam (63.2% vs 38.1%), and learning outcome (68.4% vs 42.9%). In the quiz cohort, aggregated quiz accuracy increased from 63.6% on day 1 to 88.8% on day 6. Similarly, mean examination scores were descriptively higher in the quiz cohort and increased from 6.65 to 7.10 points, while the exam failure rate declined in the quiz group (15.87% vs 11.29%). Day-specific evaluations indicated variation in perceived success and sufficiency of time, highlighting sessions requiring adjustment.

Integrating interactive quizzes was feasible, well accepted, might enhanced students perceived learning goals and provided valuable feedback for supervisors without increasing workload or reducing satisfaction. As structured evaluations, quizzes can guide targeted curriculum adjustments and optimization.