Case item creation and video case presentation as summative assessment tools for distance learning in the pandemic era

Amin, H. A. A.; Khalil, H.; Khaled, D.; Mahdi, M.; Fathelbab, M.; Gaber, D. A.

Background: There is an urgent need for more diverse methods for student evaluation, given the sudden shift to online learning necessitated by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Innovative assessment tools will need to cover the required competencies and should be used to drive self-learning. Self-assessments and peer assessments may be added to the traditional classroom-based evaluations to identify individual insecurities or overconfidence. Identification of these factors is essential to medical education and is a focus of current research. Methods: A modified operational assessment was introduced for the evaluation of third-year medical students. This intervention has facilitated sustained education and has promoted interactive student learning. Members of the entering class of 2017 participated in an integrated team and a competency-based online project that involved innovative item creation and case presentation methods. Results: The new assessment process has been implemented successfully with positive feedback from all the participants;a usable product has been generated. Conclusions: We created new assessment tools in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that have been used successfully at our institution. These tools have provided a framework for integrated and interactive evaluations that can be used to facilitate the modification of traditional assessment methods.