eMed Teamwork: a self-moderating system to gather peer feedback for developing and assessing teamwork skills

Abstract

Students in the six-year undergraduate medicine program at UNSW must submit a portfolio which demonstrates inter alia their development in teamwork skills. Much of the feedback they need to develop these skills, as well as the evidence they require to document their achievements, can only come from their peers. The eMed Teamwork system, developed for this purpose, is a computer-based system which gathers feedback from peers in project groups. The feedback submitted to the system is available to the recipient for formative purposes, and becomes part of both the author's and the recipient's portfolios for later summative assessment. This dual use ensures that the feedback is thoughtful and constructive and the system operates without significant moderation by teachers.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Chris Hughes

CHRIS HUGHES is a senior lecturer in the School of Public Health and Community Medicine at UNSW, currently seconded to the Faculty's Office of Medical Education. For the past five years he has been heavily involved in the development of the new medicine curriculum at UNSW. His research interests lie in the areas of workplace learning and computer assisted learning.

Susan Toohey

SUSAN TOOHEY is also a senior lecturer in the School of Public Health and Community Medicine at UNSW, and also currently seconded to the Faculty's Office of Medical Education. She has also been involved in development of the new curriculum and has previously published on curriculum development and student assessment.

Gary Velan

GARY VELAN is a senior lecturer in the Department of Pathology at UNSW and head of teaching for the discipline. He is involved in curriculum development, teaching, assessment, and evaluation of courses for medicine and science students. His research is based on the effects of innovations in teaching and assessment practices on student learning.