Alternative Digital Credentials: UAE’s First Adopters’ Assessment and Evaluation Part (2)

Abstract

Despite the wealth of research on full credentials assessments, standardized approaches are still scarce. This is even more threatening to the acceptance of higher education alternative digital credentials. To address this threat, validated and transparent assessments and evaluation processes are of paramount importance. This study is a continuum to our previous review on the pedagogical program analysis, design, development, and implementation. This paper reviews, assesses and evaluates the alternative digital credential offering case study. We review the development and administration of seven requirements and assessment tools used to evaluate students’ performance and use Kirkpatrick’s model to evaluate the effectiveness of the alternative credential offered. The predominantly clinical-based assessment tools and assessment decision criteria are reviewed in detail in this paper, allowing educators to leverage the outcome of this work. Results: The reviewed alternative digital credential case study in the human thorax and extremities from medical imaging has achieved Kirkpatrick level three, as evident in results, particularly from clinical assessments and clinical site viva-voce. When introducing a new competency-based assessment, professional standards can be used as a reference point to develop Behavioral Marker System rubrics. The Ebel method in calculating the cut score, which reflects expert judgment, should be considered when developing competency-based rubrics. Standardization of at least the top common technical and NTS is possible when researchers consider international collaboration by publishing comprehensive methodologies, frameworks, and results. This paper is unique as we are unaware of any publication on alternative digital credentials combining medical imaging and technical and non-technical skills within entrustable professional task assessment, verification, and program evaluation.