Assessing Faculty Learning Objectives—a Student Initiative
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Medical Science Educator
Abstract
Faculty regularly review and update learning objectives for student learning activities such as lectures, small group sessions, on-line modules, and standardized patient or simulation encounters. The effectiveness of these learning objectives is linked to faculty evaluations in a general manner. The goal of this project was to assess the student-perceived usefulness of learning objectives, to provide feedback to faculty, and to determine if student-perceived usefulness of objectives was linked to student performance and faculty evaluations. An assessment tool was developed by students, revised, and validated prior to implementation during a 3-month study. Each learning objective was assessed during this period by members of the class (n = 242), and data were analyzed. The results demonstrate that particular types of objectives were identified as being more or less useful for student learning and that student perception of learning objectives varies from faculty intent. Analyses also showed students performed less well on questions linked to objectives considered less useful. However, performance was stratified into two cohorts. Stronger and weaker students performed well or less well, respectively.
DOI
10.1007/s40670-015-0128-4
Publication Date
9-1-2015
Keywords
Faculty assessment, Learning objectives, Evaluation
ISSN
2156-8650
Recommended Citation
Fazel N, Lien M, Jakeman A, Maxwell J, Tollefson J, Wong K, Colyer K, Hanson A, O'Bannon R, Adkison LR. Assessing Faculty Learning Objectives—a Student Initiative. Medical Science Educator. 2015; 25(3). doi: 10.1007/s40670-015-0128-4.
