2025 Southern GEA/GSA/OSR Conference

In medical education, formative assessments (i.e., assessments for learning) are dynamic and directed at the future development of learners through assisted learning and self-reflection in a supportive environment. This type of assessment encourages the development of learner competence and the mastery of learning. In an era where a primary goal in healthcare education is to prepare future lifelong learners, it is imperative that educators critically appraise, and modify as necessary, the effectiveness of the use of formative assessments to achieve the goals of the institution to develop critical thinkers and self-directed learners. Conflicting with this are the old adages ‘assessment drives the curriculum’ and ‘assessment drives learning’ which often are considered a general truth that assessments must contribute to a summative grade to be effective. The goals of this session are to examine educator and learner perspectives, apply theoretical frameworks of assessment useful to developing integrated formative assessments, and address potential strategies to improve learner buy-in and educator confidence toward formative assessments.