Using the Digital Platform ExamSoft in Veterinary Anatomy and Parasitology Assessments in Written and Laboratory Components

Abstract

The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), with a class size of 162, is one of the largest in the nation. In an effort to streamline examination procedures, create a consistent assessment format among courses, replace paper exams, track test questions linked to learning objectives, and reduce exam grading time, our DVM program adopted the use of ExamSoft for core courses beginning in the autumn semester 2014. ExamSoft is an electronic assessment application, which provides a secure testing environment and robust reporting features. CVM uses it for high stakes midterm and finals. Although easily adopted into a didactic course format, its application in laboratory-based examinations proved challenging. Designing, setting up and grading exams for Anatomy and Parasitology courses with a laboratory component have always required substantial time investment, and adding a testing application to the process demanded rethinking and restructuring logistics. After two semesters of process refinement and standardization of a testing device to the iPad, faculty teaching in the Anatomy and Parasitology courses were able to implement ExamSoft in a laboratory setting to realize the same assessment and efficiency gains. Here we describe the benefits of ExamSoft testing in the written and laboratory settings and the lessons learned during the 2-year transition.

Tablet‐assisted objective structured spotter practical examination (TOSSPE): Advantages of an innovative anatomy spotter examination method for medical student assessment

“…High TOSSPE application stability and significantly reduced evaluation time is also a benefit. In addition, electronic assessment application, the ExamSoft ® (ExamSoft Worldwide, Inc., Dallas, TX) provides immediate, interactive service feedback, including response display, and allows students to read and discuss the materials after the exam, strengthening the learning process (Inpanbutr et al, 2020). The comprehension, analysis, naming, and typing of the proper name of the located structure with the deep synthesis, gives the student and teacher a higher level of complexity and specificity in Bloom's taxonomy.…”

Distance Education in Veterinary Medicine: History, Current Situation, and Future Perspectives (a Systematic Review)

“…These actions also improve the animal welfare, the student's clinical confidence and optimize the evaluation processes, especially when there are many students and subjects that have a practical and/or laboratory component. They are also seen by the students as more motivating and effective for learning when comparing with traditional lectures (PEREIRA et al, 2018;ESPITIA et al, 2019;VOGT et al, 2019;BAI, 2020;CALSAMIGLIA et al, 2020;INPANBUTR et al, 2020;SAWRAS et al, 2020).…”

Forging ahead from adaptations of teaching during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Perspectives from multiple pharmacy programs

“…If open‐note examinations are used, studies have described using more application items to assess course, curricular, and accreditation outcomes 13,16 . In addition, CBT does enable diverse question types, not just multiple choice 17,18 . This can enable essays for inclusion of rationale for selected multiple‐choice questions 17,18 .…”

“…In addition, CBT does enable diverse question types, not just multiple choice 17,18 . This can enable essays for inclusion of rationale for selected multiple‐choice questions 17,18 . Educators have mixed feelings towards providing detailed feedback to students after the examination 18,19 .…”

“…Other assessments are also necessary to evaluate students' clinical knowledge and skills before starting experiential rotations. While traditionally skill assessments have been performed in‐person and even potentially in‐lockdown to minimize cheating, multiple articles in health professions education describe options for effectively delivering remote skill assessments 20,12‐23 . Remote skill assessments can be performed virtually to simulate telehealth, which has been slowly growing before and exponentially expanded during the pandemic 21‐24 .…”