Student Assessment Methods in Physical Therapy Education: An Overview and Literature Review

Abstract

Introduction. Student assessment is an important aspect of the physical therapy curriculum. It should be used to motivate students, correct mistakes, measure transfer of learning, evaluate instructional effects, and identify inappropriate student behaviors. The purpose of this overview and literature review is to consider student assessment methods and indicate how they can be applied to physical therapy education. Materials. A qualitative overview of relevant resources is presented. Results. Traditional assessments such as objective or essay tests are familiar and useful for measuring certain types of knowledge. Alternative assessments differ from traditional assessments in that students are asked to perform, create, or produce something significant that is related to both previous instructional activities and realworld applications. Discussion and Conclusions. All assessment methods should be linked to the intended learning outcomes, be meaningful for students, and be applied fairly to all students. Instructors should be concerned about issues of validity and reliability as they develop and revise assessment tools.