Twelve tips to promote successful development of a learner performance dashboard within a medical education program

Abstract

Easily accessible and interpretable performance data constitute critical feedback for learners that facilitate informed self-assessment and learning planning. To provide this feedback, there has been a proliferation of educational dashboards in recent years. An educational (learner) dashboard systematically delivers timely and continuous feedback on performance and can provide easily visualized and interpreted performance data. In this paper, we provide practical tips for developing a functional, user-friendly individual learner performance dashboard and literature review of dashboard development, assessment theory, and users’ perspectives. Considering key design principles and maximizing current technological advances in data visualization techniques can increase dashboard utility and enhance the user experience. By bridging current technology with assessment strategies that support learning, educators can continue to improve the field of learning analytics and design of information management tools such as dashboards in support of improved learning outcomes.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Padmaja Gade for her help with illustrations for the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Notes on contributors

Christy K. Boscardin, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the School of Medicine at University of California, San Francisco.

Kirkpatrick B. Fergus is a Medical Student in the School of Medicine at University of California, San Francisco.

Bonnie Hellevig is the Director of Educational Data in the School of Medicine at University of California, San Francisco.

Karen E. Hauer, MD, PhD, is the Associate Dean of Competency Assessment and Professional Standards and Professor of Medicine in the School of Medicine at University of California, San Francisco.