Objectively evaluating student case presentations.

Evaluation and documentation of student performance is of major importance to a radiology elective coordinator. To better assess a variety of aspects of competence and learning, an oral case presentation was included in the final elective evaluation. This article describes the 31-item checklist designed to assess the level of student achievement of the objectives for the oral presentation. In addition to developing this standard evaluation instrument, methodologies were used to increase the validity and reliability of the oral presentation; the examiners were briefed in advance, the checklist included cognitive and noncognitive measures, and a simple grading score was used for each item. Students who received the checklist and written course objectives at the beginning of the elective earned better grades than those students who did not receive the materials. Student evaluations reveal that the oral case presentation as presently organized is felt to be of value.