Cees van der Vleuten1, Valerie van den Eertwegh2, Esther Giroldi3. 1. Maastricht University, Department of Educational Development and Research, School of Health Professions Education(SHE), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht, the Netherlands. Electronic address: c.vandervleuten@maastrichtuniversity.nl. 2. Maastricht University, Skillslab, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht, the Netherlands. 3. Maastricht University, Department of Educational Development and Research, School of Health Professions Education(SHE), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Maastricht University, Department of Family Medicine, Care and Public, Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This paper addresses how communication skills can best be assessed. Since assessment and learning are strongly connected, the way communication skills are best learned is also described. RESULTS: Communication skills are best learned in a longitudinal fashion with ample practice in an authentic setting. Confrontation of behavior initiates the learning process and should be supported by meaningful feedback through direct observation. When done appropriately a set of (learned) communication skills become integrated skilled communication, being versatilely used in purposeful goal-oriented clinical communication. The assessment of communication skills should follow a modern approach to assessment where the learning function of assessment is considered a priority. Individual assessments are feedback-oriented to promote further learning and development. The resulting rich information may be used to make progression decisions, usually in a group or committee decision. CONCLUSION: This modern programmatic approach to assessment fits the learning of skilled communication well. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Implementation of a programmatic assessment approach to communication will entail a major innovation to education.
OBJECTIVE: This paper addresses how communication skills can best be assessed. Since assessment and learning are strongly connected, the way communication skills are best learned is also described. RESULTS: Communication skills are best learned in a longitudinal fashion with ample practice in an authentic setting. Confrontation of behavior initiates the learning process and should be supported by meaningful feedback through direct observation. When done appropriately a set of (learned) communication skills become integrated skilled communication, being versatilely used in purposeful goal-oriented clinical communication. The assessment of communication skills should follow a modern approach to assessment where the learning function of assessment is considered a priority. Individual assessments are feedback-oriented to promote further learning and development. The resulting rich information may be used to make progression decisions, usually in a group or committee decision. CONCLUSION: This modern programmatic approach to assessment fits the learning of skilled communication well. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Implementation of a programmatic assessment approach to communication will entail a major innovation to education.
Authors: Stephanie A S Staras; Carma L Bylund; Shivani Desai; Christopher A Harle; Eric Richardson; Georges E Khalil; Lindsay A Thompson Journal: PEC Innov Date: 2022-12