Keith Wilson¹
 1 Dalhousie University 

Assessment systems in health professions education are complex and multifaceted. They sit within larger structures that too are often complex. When making changes in these systems, many educators quickly discover that there are several challenges that need to be addressed. For example, educators involved in assessment of student performance may want to integrate a new tool to meet a specific assessment need. Implementation will need to address many interrelated parts and as a result it is oft times challenging to bring these educational innovations to fruition. Systems thinking is an approach to address complex problems and is in use in many professions. It allows us to think more broadly when addressing a problem, considering multiple facets. To this end, a main goal in using systems thinking to address assessment problems is to understand the behaviour of involved processes, ultimately leading to creative ways to manage these complex problems. 

Given the complexities noted above, gaining skill in using systems thinking to address assessment problems allows educators to have greater chance of success. This workshop intends to aid participants in understanding, and ultimately applying, systems thinking to assessment problems in their own context. 

After introductions and icebreakers, participants will be led through a brief introductory session on system thinking, related examples, and how it applies to health professions assessment. Participants will be introduced to practical tools to address and analyze complex problems found in assessment. In small groups, participants will apply their knowledge of systems thinking using a case study. This application of systems thinking principles will then be debriefed in the larger group. Further brainstorming to apply these to participants’ own contexts will be explored before concluding the workshop. 

Educators involved in planning and implementing assessment change(s). 

Intermediate 

- Define systems thinking and explore its importance in health professions education and assessment 

- Recognize the interdependency of components within a complex system
- Apply systems thinking principles to a sample health professions assessment problem 

40 

References (maximum three) 

Khanna P, Roberts C, Lane AS. Designing health professional education curricula using systems thinking perspectives. BMC Medical Education. 2021; 21:20. 

Hassan IS et al. A Systems Thinking approach for the creation of effective competency-based medical education programs. Pan African Medical Journal. 2022;41(203).