The role of assessment in expanding professional horizons

This paper explores assessment innovations which have a system-wide effect on medical education and the medical profession. Important assessment approaches such as the objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), the portfolio, and hi-tech simulations are examples of reform-driven developments. A detailed account is provided on assessment areas that require further developments. The identified areas reflect current thinking in the Centre for Medical Education, University of Dundee Medical School. The assessment innovations are being developed alongside the implementation of the outcome-based curriculum. Areas that require extensive work are: assessment of progression towards defined outcomes, assessment of integrated abilities, assessment of different forms of medical knowledge, assessment of on-the-job learning, learning through assessment, assessment of error management and assessment of portfolio evidence. The identified areas for further assessment development are discussed and where appropriate a theoretical framework is provided.