For centuries, medical educators have used traditional means for assessing medical knowledge and skills: paper-and-pencil tests, microscope-based exams, and clinical skills exams with (simulated) patients.  These trusted methods, however, have serious drawbacks.  For instance, in a typical microscope-based exam students are given little time to examine a specimen and are not allowed to review their answers.  Not uncommonly, specimens change or become damaged during the examination process. 

Recent advances in web-based and robotic technology have remedied some of the disadvantages of traditional assessment methods.  These new formats of assessment, however, are expensive and introduce a new set of challenges.  For instance, security concerns are raised because students need to be tested in shifts due to limited seating capacity in computer laboratories.

In this seminar, Dr. Uijtdehaage will review the advantages and disadvantages of web-based assessment.  In addition, he will discuss how security issues can be handled.  Furthermore, the question of home-grown versus off-the-shelf applications will be addressed.  Finally, he will give examples how patient computer simulations and robotic technology can be employed for assessment of clinical skills.