Does Two‐stage Collaborative Testing Improve Recall and Retention of Anatomical Concepts?

Abstract

IntroductionAnatomy is a foundational component of biomedical sciences. To directly address concerns regarding retention of anatomical knowledge, course assessments can be redesigned as learning opportunities. Specifically, collaborative two‐stage testing is an alternative to traditional ‘independent’ testing, previously shown to improve final exam performance and retention of course material. However, past evaluations of student retention have generally compared separate cohorts of students who write either an individual test or a two‐stage test; such a design fails to control for between‐student variables.AimBuilding on previous work in the field, the primary aim of this research is to determine the impact of two‐stage collaborative testing on student recall (short‐term) and retention (long‐term) of anatomy knowledge while controlling for between‐student variables by employing a randomized crossover research design. Secondary aims of this research are to compare performance metrics between high and low performing students and evaluate students' perceptions regarding the collaborative testing structure.MethodsAt the initiation of ANAT110 (Anatomy for Medical Radiation Sciences) students (n=94) were randomized into 30 “anatomy groups” (AGs) of 3–4 students. Throughout the course AGs worked together on in‐class and in‐laboratory learning activities, including course assessments. Students were assessed using three segmented term tests (TT; 20% each) and one cumulative final exam (40%). Each TT began with all students individually completing a multiple choice exam (the IND condition). Following this, some students would convene in their AGs to collaboratively complete the same multiple choice exam in a condensed amount of time (the COL condition). To control for learning effects of the collaborative process, all 30 AGs completed TT1 as IND + COL. Experimental testing conditions were TT2 and TT3 (with crossover), where half the class completed an IND examination only and the other half completed an IND + COL examination. Data collection is currently in progress. Using results from an in‐class formative quiz (written 5 days following the TTs), robust 2×2 mixed‐factor statistical analyses will reveal the direct impact of testing condition (IND vs. COL) on anatomy recall. Using individualized final examination performance, segmented and coded for previous testing condition (IND vs. COL), similar statistical analyses will reveal the direct impact of testing condition on anatomy retention.ResultsBased on previous cohort studies, it is hypothesized that two‐stage collaborative testing will improve recall and retention of anatomical concepts. It is also hypothesized that the relative impact on performance will be consistent between low and high performers.ImportanceHolistically evaluating the educational impact and student perceptions of two‐stage collaborative testing is imperative for determining the future utility of this strategy in the context of human anatomy education.Support or Funding InformationA portion of this work is funded by the Learning & Education Advancement Fund (seed grant) through the University of TorontoThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.