An Evaluation Framework for Success: Forward Looking Assessment, Electronic Portfolios and Competency Based Evaluation

When we think about academic evaluation it creates a vision of looking back at some data to determine what was accomplished. In this presentation we will describe a synergistic evaluation framework that engages students in a forward looking assessment illustrating achievement of competencies and outcomes.  NONPF promotes competency based education which also serves as the foundation for evaluation  In educating advanced practice nurses (APNs), forward looking assessment means that faculty look ahead to what they expect students to be able to do in the future by learning X, Y & Z. If one can imagine a situation where nurse practitioners are actually using the knowledge, what is it that they would be doing? The course curriculum reflects the defined outcomes.  The electronic portfolio is a formal means to capture the documentation of  competencies achieved by students, course outcomes and associated scholarship. The purpose of the presentation is to share an evaluation framework captured in students’ electronic portfolios.  In educating advanced practice nurses (APNs) this forward looking assessment can serve as a benchmark that will motivate the students toward achievement of competencies expected of APNs in general as well as in their specialty areas. The portfolio promotes synergy for contemporary students who have used social media to share information. During a course, student-faculty dialog is a formative evaluation method for discussing the evidence of achievement and the portfolio contents.  This feedback framework promotes a clearer understanding for the student and faculty of what should be achieved and encourages students to begin to evaluate their own learning and accept responsibility for their academic experience. At the conclusion of the course, faculty will conduct a summative assessment of the portfolio using a rubric for the competencies and course outcomes as the yardstick for student grades. Just as NONPF competencies serve as the foundation for curriculum, we also embrace new evaluation formats and emerging technologies to showcase the achievement and scholarship of our students.

______________________________________________________________________________