COMPUTERIZED EXAMINATIONS IN FIRST YEAR HUMAN ORGAN SYSTEMS COURSE - HOW, WHEN, WHERE AND WHY?
Thomas J. Schmidt, Ph.D.1*, Paul M. Heidger, Ph.D.2, Jess Mandel, M.D.3, Scott Elliot4, Justin Stone4, and Scott Duffy4, 1Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, 2Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, 3Department of Internal Medicine ,4Office of Consultation and Research in Medical Education, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242 U.S.A.
Purpose We have successfully used computer technology to administer large examinations to all first-year medical students taking our Human Organ Systems course, which is an integrated physiology/histology course. This abstract briefly describes the venue and technology that were required to achieve this goal, as well as some of the advantages associated with computerized testing.
Methods Testing is conducted using a hard-wired auditorium that accommodates power and internet service for 165 Dell laptop computers, which are used exclusively for testing purposes. The testing software facilitates the use of examination questions that are accompanied by graphics, high-resolution images and potentially sound and/or video clips. Histological images are selected from a large bank within the Iowa Virtual Slidebox of Histology. Two pieces of software make this routine online testing possible. 1. Itembanker is used by faculty and staff to create questions and to track how individual questions perform statistically over time (banked questions) and on a specific examination. 2. Module Viewer is used to actually present the examination to students and record their answers.
Results Computerized testing has allowed us to completely integrate physiology (function) multiple choice questions with histology (structure) superlist (500 terms) identification questions. Faculty evaluations are also completed online after each student has completed his/her examination.
Conclusions There are several advantages associated with computerized testing. This form of assessment: provides students with practice for taking computerized USMLE examinations; facilitates incorporation of high resolution histological images; gives students immediate access their scores; and eliminates the need to post time remaining to complete an examination since each individual computer is timed.