Background: A major concern and challenge faced by the educational institution during coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and consequent lockdown is the timely conduct of the summative assessment. Unlike cognitive assessment, real-time practical assessment through online mode, without compromising principles of assessment is difficult. This study was performed to analyze an alternative hybrid approach adopted for the postgraduate practical summative assessment in pathology.
Materials and Methods: Evaluation of the process of summative assessment was done where internal and external examiners synchronously assessed examinees real-time on-site (face to face) and off-site (remotely through live videoconferencing) respectively. A pre-validated questionnaire on a novel approach for assessment and feedback (with close-ended on 5-point Likert scale and open-ended questions) were administered to nine participants comprising three final year postgraduates in pathology, four examiners (two internal and two externals) and two technical experts from the Department of Pathology. Overall scores obtained by all examinees were recorded. A pre-validated questionnaire and feedback were administered to the participants to assess the novel approach to assessment.
Results: The mean performance score obtained by examinees was 63.5% in the summative assessment. Feedback analysis revealed that 85% of participants strongly agreed and the rest (15%) agreed that essential minor deviations introduced in this novel mode of assessment did not compromise basic principles and goals of assessment. Quality of assessment through this mode of assessment was graded as good to excellent. All participants responded that this mode of examination may be applied in the future under similar circumstances.
Conclusion: This study concludes that an alternative novel hybrid method of real-time synchronous assessment with on-site and off-site examiners may be a feasible and successful model for conducting summative assessment and can be practiced in time of need.



中文翻译：

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COVID-19全国封锁期间病理学研究生认证考试实践评估中采用的替代策略：印度采用新型混合评估方法的经验

背景：在冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行和随后的封锁期间，教育机构面临的一个主要问题和挑战是及时进行总结性评估。与认知评估不同，通过在线模式进行实时实践评估，在不损害评估原则的情况下是困难的。本研究的目的是分析病理学研究生实践总结性评估所采用的替代混合方法。
材料和方法：总结性评估过程的评价是由内部和外部审查员分别对考生进行现场（面对面）和场外（通过现场视频会议远程）实时同步评估。向九名参与者发放了一份关于评估和反馈新方法的预验证问卷（采用 5 点李克特量表的封闭式和开放式问题），其中包括三名病理学研究生、四名审查员（两名内部审查员和两名审查员）外部）和病理科技术专家两名。记录所有考生获得的总分。向参与者提供了预先验证的问卷和反馈，以评估新的评估方法。
结果：考生在总结性评估中获得的平均成绩为63.5%。反馈分析显示，85% 的参与者强烈同意，其余 (15%) 同意这种新颖的评估模式中引入的基本微小偏差不会损害评估的基本原则和目标。通过这种评估方式，评估质量被评为良好至优秀。与会人员纷纷表示，今后类似情况下可能会采用这种考试方式。
结论：本研究得出的结论是，现场和非现场审查员实时同步评估的另一种新型混合方法可能是进行总结性评估的可行且成功的模式，并且可以在需要时进行实践。