Application of “Earl's Assessment as, Assessment for, and Assessment of Learning Model” with Orthopaedic Assessment Clinical Competence

Abstract

Context In order to study the efficacy of assessment methods, a theoretical framework of Earl's model of assessment was introduced. Objective (1) Introduce the predictive learning assessment model (PLAM) as an application of Earl's model of learning; (2) test Earl's model of learning through the use of the Standardized Orthopedic Assessment Tool (SOAT); and (3) establish construct validity of the SOAT. Design Quasi-experimental. Setting Three Canadian universities Patients or Other Participants A convenience sample of 57 third-year undergraduate athletic therapy students from three universities were randomly assigned into three experimental groups. Intervention(s) Treatment group 1 gave the instructor access to the SOAT, but the instructor could not explicitly share it. Treatment group 2 gave both the instructor and students access to the SOAT throughout the semester to use formatively. Group three was the comparison. Main Outcome Measure(s) All students were tested using the SOAT at the end of the semester using expert raters. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) (P < .05) was used to determine whether there was a difference between groups in their final examination grades. Results The ANOVA demonstrated a significant difference between groups (F2,56 = 28.6, P < .01). The effect size, calculated using η2, was 0.51. Post hoc analysis revealed a significant difference between treatment group 2 and the other treatment group and comparison group. Conclusions Small sample size and the quasi-experimental design prevent definitive conclusions, but the SOAT was able to discriminate between various groups, supporting our construct validity objective. The SOAT was introduced as a predictive tool that may assist orthopaedic assessment skill development. The treatment group exposed to the SOAT demonstrated that formative assessment of students using the SOAT was an effective means of teaching relative to no exposure or where only the instructor was exposed to the SOAT.