The transition from objectively structured practical examination (OSPE) to electronic OSPE in the era of COVID-19.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is forcing the medical educators to innovate and embrace online education and assessment platform. One of the most significant challenges we are facing is the formative assessment of practical skills in the undergraduate medical biochemistry education. We have designed the electronic objectively structured practical examination to facilitate the formative assessment.

GROUND SITUATION

The coronavirus (COVID‐19) pandemic has restricted ‘in person’ teaching learning activities. However, this challenge provided the opportunity to embrace virtual platforms. Use of telemedicine and tele‐teaching is popular means for medical education. Recently, the Medical Council of India has emphasized a competency‐based curriculum with objective assessment in undergraduate medical education. Objectively structured practical examination (OSPE) has been shown to be more effective compared to the traditional practical examination. Therefore, an OSPE‐based formative assessment in biochemistry through virtual format is planned.

PROPOSED PLAN

We combined Google Classroom with Google Form‐based online assessment system and G Suite‐based third‐party formLimiter with add on plugin (New Visions Cloudlab) to build electronic OSPE (e‐OSPE). To simulate the requisite OSPE environment with seamless transition between the stations, a single Google sheet linked to all stations is designed to sequentially stop accepting responses after a span of 5 min and to provide the link to the next station on submission of answer with provision of error message, in case of crossing the time limit at any particular station. The entire process will be monitored by one faculty through the Google Classroom live stream during the examination. The system will use in‐built assessment based on answer validation criteria to provide marks. Feedback from both learners and facilitators would be collected. Links to all stations, feedback questions and screenshots are included in Data S1.

PROJECTED OUTCOME

The potential of e‐OSPE as a suitable alternative assessment tool would be tested. Challenges of internet connectivity and possibility of cross‐talk between the students would be addressed.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

DATA S1 Links to all stations, feedback questions and screenshots

Click here for additional data file.