The effect of testing on skills learning

Charles B Kromann; Morten L Jensen; Charlotte Ringsted; Charles B Kromann; Morten Lind Jensen; Charlotte Ringsted

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2923.2008.03245.x

The effect of testing on skills learning

Charles B Kromann, Morten L Jensen, Charlotte Ringsted, Charles B Kromann, Morten Lind Jensen, Charlotte Ringsted

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › peer review

241 Citationer (Scopus)

Abstract

Udgivelsesdato: 2009-Jan

Originalsprog	Engelsk
Tidsskrift	Medical Education
Vol/bind	43
Udgave nummer	1
Sider (fra-til)	21-7
Antal sider	7
ISSN	0308-0110
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2923.2008.03245.x https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2923.2008.03245.x
Status	Udgivet - 1 jan. 2009

Bibliografisk note

Keywords: Clinical Competence; Curriculum; Educational Measurement; Humans; Learning; Pilot Projects; Program Evaluation; Prospective Studies; Resuscitation; Single-Blind Method; Students, Medical

Adgang til dokumentet

Citationsformater

@article{36fb71f0474811df928f000ea68e967b,

title = "The effect of testing on skills learning",

abstract = "OBJECTIVES: In addition to the extrinsic effects of assessment and examinations on students' study habits, testing can have an intrinsic effect on the memory of studied material. Whether this testing effect also applies to skills learning is not known. However, this is especially interesting in view of the need to maximise learning outcomes from costly simulation-based courses. This study was conducted to determine whether testing as the final activity in a skills course increases learning outcome compared with an equal amount of time spent practising the skill. METHODS: We carried out a prospective, controlled, randomised, single-blind, post-test-only intervention study, preceded by a similar pre- and post-test pilot study in order to make a power calculation. A total of 140 medical students participating in a mandatory 4-hour in-hospital resuscitation course in the seventh semester were randomised to either the intervention or control group and were invited to participate in an assessment of learning outcome. The intervention course included 3.5 hours of instruction and training followed by 30 minutes of testing. The control course included 4 hours of instruction and training. Participant learning outcomes were assessed 2 weeks after the course in a simulated scenario using a checklist. Total assessment scores were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Overall, 81 of the 140 students volunteered to participate. Learning outcomes were significantly higher in the intervention group (n = 41; mean score 82.8%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 79.4-86.2) compared with the control group (n = 40; mean score 73.3%, 95% CI 70.5-76.1) (P < 0.001). Effect size was 0.93. CONCLUSIONS: Testing as a final activity in a resuscitation skills course for medical students increases learning outcome compared with spending an equal amount of time practising the skills.",

author = "Kromann, {Charles B} and Jensen, {Morten L} and Charlotte Ringsted and Kromann, {Charles B} and Jensen, {Morten Lind} and Charlotte Ringsted",

note = "Keywords: Clinical Competence; Curriculum; Educational Measurement; Humans; Learning; Pilot Projects; Program Evaluation; Prospective Studies; Resuscitation; Single-Blind Method; Students, Medical",

year = "2009",

month = jan,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1111/j.1365-2923.2008.03245.x",

language = "English",

volume = "43",

pages = "21--7",

journal = "Medical Education",

issn = "0308-0110",

publisher = "Wiley",

number = "1",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - The effect of testing on skills learning

AU - Kromann, Charles B

AU - Jensen, Morten L

AU - Ringsted, Charlotte

AU - Kromann, Charles B

AU - Jensen, Morten Lind

AU - Ringsted, Charlotte

N1 - Keywords: Clinical Competence; Curriculum; Educational Measurement; Humans; Learning; Pilot Projects; Program Evaluation; Prospective Studies; Resuscitation; Single-Blind Method; Students, Medical

PY - 2009/1/1

Y1 - 2009/1/1

N2 - OBJECTIVES: In addition to the extrinsic effects of assessment and examinations on students' study habits, testing can have an intrinsic effect on the memory of studied material. Whether this testing effect also applies to skills learning is not known. However, this is especially interesting in view of the need to maximise learning outcomes from costly simulation-based courses. This study was conducted to determine whether testing as the final activity in a skills course increases learning outcome compared with an equal amount of time spent practising the skill. METHODS: We carried out a prospective, controlled, randomised, single-blind, post-test-only intervention study, preceded by a similar pre- and post-test pilot study in order to make a power calculation. A total of 140 medical students participating in a mandatory 4-hour in-hospital resuscitation course in the seventh semester were randomised to either the intervention or control group and were invited to participate in an assessment of learning outcome. The intervention course included 3.5 hours of instruction and training followed by 30 minutes of testing. The control course included 4 hours of instruction and training. Participant learning outcomes were assessed 2 weeks after the course in a simulated scenario using a checklist. Total assessment scores were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Overall, 81 of the 140 students volunteered to participate. Learning outcomes were significantly higher in the intervention group (n = 41; mean score 82.8%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 79.4-86.2) compared with the control group (n = 40; mean score 73.3%, 95% CI 70.5-76.1) (P < 0.001). Effect size was 0.93. CONCLUSIONS: Testing as a final activity in a resuscitation skills course for medical students increases learning outcome compared with spending an equal amount of time practising the skills.

AB - OBJECTIVES: In addition to the extrinsic effects of assessment and examinations on students' study habits, testing can have an intrinsic effect on the memory of studied material. Whether this testing effect also applies to skills learning is not known. However, this is especially interesting in view of the need to maximise learning outcomes from costly simulation-based courses. This study was conducted to determine whether testing as the final activity in a skills course increases learning outcome compared with an equal amount of time spent practising the skill. METHODS: We carried out a prospective, controlled, randomised, single-blind, post-test-only intervention study, preceded by a similar pre- and post-test pilot study in order to make a power calculation. A total of 140 medical students participating in a mandatory 4-hour in-hospital resuscitation course in the seventh semester were randomised to either the intervention or control group and were invited to participate in an assessment of learning outcome. The intervention course included 3.5 hours of instruction and training followed by 30 minutes of testing. The control course included 4 hours of instruction and training. Participant learning outcomes were assessed 2 weeks after the course in a simulated scenario using a checklist. Total assessment scores were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Overall, 81 of the 140 students volunteered to participate. Learning outcomes were significantly higher in the intervention group (n = 41; mean score 82.8%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 79.4-86.2) compared with the control group (n = 40; mean score 73.3%, 95% CI 70.5-76.1) (P < 0.001). Effect size was 0.93. CONCLUSIONS: Testing as a final activity in a resuscitation skills course for medical students increases learning outcome compared with spending an equal amount of time practising the skills.

U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2923.2008.03245.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2923.2008.03245.x

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 19140995

SN - 0308-0110

VL - 43

SP - 21

EP - 27

JO - Medical Education

JF - Medical Education

IS - 1

ER -