Clinical competence is a multidimensional concept and encompasses a variety of skills including procedural, problem-solving and clinical judgement. The initial stages of postgraduate medical training are believed to be a particularly important time for the development of clinical skill competencies. This study reports on an evaluation of a…

The goal of this article is to contribute to the validation of a self-evaluation method, which can be used by schools to evaluate the quality of their Competence Assessment Program (CAP). The outcomes of the self-evaluations of two schools are systematically compared: a novice school with little experience in competence-based education and…

Concerns about and objections to competency-based assessment in higher education are examined, including superficiality, use of inference, neglect of knowledge and of process, and subjectivity. It is concluded that, although each objection raises an important issue, in each case, a well-designed competency-based assessment system can overcome…

A problem-based, criterion-referenced examination of clinical competence was developed in order to positively influence students' learning in the direction of the faculty's clinical objectives. High satisfaction and high perceived relevance among students accompanied high reliability and validity. (MSE)

After introductory material examining student skepticism toward testing and outlining the major problems encountered by instructors in test construction and grading, this monograph explores the optimum use of testing and performance evaluations in competency-based vocational education programs. Background information is then presented, including…

The methodology for validating assessment techniques in a performance-based liberal arts curriculum was studied at Alverno College. Methods for validating a generic competence instrument that measures "social interaction" were investigated. A generic instrument is defined as one that assesses a competence level across content areas…

This report reflects experiences in the development of new conceptual frameworks for defining learning outcomes that are most desirable for effective life preparation and that emphasize the way people process and integrate information rather than how well people merely store and retrieve information. These new measures, for use in institutions of…

Perspectives concerning the validation of faculty-developed instruments for the assessment of student performance at Alverno College are presented. Sixteen instruments were identified by departments for the validation studies. Three validation strategies were found to work best. One was a pre- and post-instruction comparison that determined if…

The methodology for validating assessment techniques in a performance-based liberal arts curriculum was studied at Alverno College. Two generic instruments for assessing the competencies of "communications" and "valuing" were employed. A generic instrument is defined as one that assesses a competence level across content areas…

Alverno College (Wisconsin) defines a curriculum in which all students demonstrate certain major abilities within their disciplines or professional areas, and it assesses those abilities as its primary graduation requirements. The college-wide assessment center has enabled assessment of complex abilities not easily tested through a single course.…

This document reports efforts to address some of the problems of competency-based assessment by developing and utilizing unique measures of competence. Seven conceptual guidelines are identified for test development and utilization: (1) new competencies must be identified and operationally defined; (2) new competencies should have general…

Between July and November 1993, a cross-section of Australia's school- and workplace-based vocational education and training programs was studied to identify programs using innovative assessment strategies and materials. As innovative strategies/materials were identified, the study methodology was revised and a case study approach was adopted. The…

This booklet has been written to help persons interested in assessment of education and training programs in general and competency-based vocational education programs in particular. The following topics are covered in the individual sections: the meaning of the term "assessment"; the importance of assessment; curriculum models; percentages and…

The literature on issues of the reliability and validity of objective and performance assessments in vocational education and training was reviewed and synthesized to develop guidelines for procedures to enhance reliability and validity. The review established the following facts: (1) validity is determined largely through inferences made by both…