Welcome!
from Bonnie Granat, Director, Program Evaluation and Assessment, New York College of Osteopathic Medicine
The purpose of this website is to determine the feasibility of establishing a National Question Bank and to promote engagement among interested Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. At the 2010 AACOM conference, a group gathered to discuss the benefits and concerns of using online examinations for student assessment. An offshoot of that discussion was the related topic of developing a National COM Question Bank. Many present expressed interest and I offered to explore the possibilities further. Another meeting was held at the recent AACOM conference (April 16, 2011) which furthered our thinking. Please check the tab on this page for a summary of that meeting.
Currently, I serve as the Director of Program Evaluation and Assessment, but my initial role at New York College of Osteopathic Medicine was as Learning Specialist. In that capacity, it became clear to me that what a school chooses to assess and how that assessment is structured has a tremendous impact on how students study and work to learn material. It became increasingly clear that a well established, well written data base of high order examination questions, prepared to assess both broad and specific information, would encourage students to understand concepts and retain necessary details. Our current focus is to establish a database of questions which can be used in-house to effectively and efficiently assess students during their preclinical years.
To that end, I have had several discussions with representatives from ExamSoft, a software company which specializes in high stakes exams, serves hundreds of schools, and administers the bar examination in 38 US states. ExamSoft is willing to work with our group of COMs to create customized software which will facilitate a secure, shared data base. They will support us throughout the process as we work to establish specific goals, objectives and procedures. In an effort to bring together a group of interested schools, I have established this website, which is currently public.
The website includes a summary of our recent meeting, a survey (PLEASE COMPLETE THIS), contact information, a current status page, a blog for you to share ideas with each other, and links to the ExamSoft presentation at AACOM and their home page.
I strongly encourage all COMs to respond to the survey. I will compile the information and share it with all those interested. Your responses will help us to form a strong consortium to meet our needs. It is important for interested schools to voice opinions and express ideas. We truly need your input. Many excellent suggestions came up in just one short hour!
Many thanks,
Bonnie
Currently, I serve as the Director of Program Evaluation and Assessment, but my initial role at New York College of Osteopathic Medicine was as Learning Specialist. In that capacity, it became clear to me that what a school chooses to assess and how that assessment is structured has a tremendous impact on how students study and work to learn material. It became increasingly clear that a well established, well written data base of high order examination questions, prepared to assess both broad and specific information, would encourage students to understand concepts and retain necessary details. Our current focus is to establish a database of questions which can be used in-house to effectively and efficiently assess students during their preclinical years.
To that end, I have had several discussions with representatives from ExamSoft, a software company which specializes in high stakes exams, serves hundreds of schools, and administers the bar examination in 38 US states. ExamSoft is willing to work with our group of COMs to create customized software which will facilitate a secure, shared data base. They will support us throughout the process as we work to establish specific goals, objectives and procedures. In an effort to bring together a group of interested schools, I have established this website, which is currently public.
The website includes a summary of our recent meeting, a survey (PLEASE COMPLETE THIS), contact information, a current status page, a blog for you to share ideas with each other, and links to the ExamSoft presentation at AACOM and their home page.
I strongly encourage all COMs to respond to the survey. I will compile the information and share it with all those interested. Your responses will help us to form a strong consortium to meet our needs. It is important for interested schools to voice opinions and express ideas. We truly need your input. Many excellent suggestions came up in just one short hour!
Many thanks,
Bonnie
