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Quality Training
Volume 12 No 3 I June 2016 31
Examination and Assessment Review
College Board gives ‘green light’ to implement
the strategy for renewal of our training programs
As many members will be aware,
Emeritus Professor David Prideaux of
Flinders University and Dr Jacob Pearce
and Mr Daniel Urbach of the Australian
Council for Educational Research (ACER)
conducted a full review of the College’s
assessment and examination processes
for Fellowship training in 2015. The
review involved extensive consultation
with College stakeholders and thorough
observation and analysis of our
examination and assessment processes.
In early February, the College held
Specialty Training planning days
for both clinical radiology and
radiation oncology. In total, these
events brought together over 70
clinicians who contribute to the
College including Board members,
office bearers, committee members,
examiners, directors of training and
trainees. Attendees discussed the
current strengths and challenges of
their respective Faculty’s Specialty
Training programs and considered the
College’s strategy for their continued
improvement and renewal over the next
few years.
At its March meeting the College
Board approved the budget and work
plan identifying the priorities for the
implementation of the examination and
assessment recommendations made by
Prof David Prideaux and ACER, in their
external review of the College’s training
programs and from the planning days.
The review will be overseen by a Task
Force comprised of:
• The President (Chair) – Dr Greg Slater
• Chief Censor in Radiation Oncology
– A/Prof Margot Lehman
• Chief Censor in Clinical Radiology
– A/Prof Dinesh Varma
• CEO – Natalia Vukolova
• Head of Specialty Training
– Pamela Taylor
The Task Force met for the first time
on 31 May 2016 and discussed project
governance, progress on examination
improvements, programmatic
assessment implementation, risks,
communication, infrastructure and
resources.
The Task Force discussed the
recommendations and agreed that the
Chief Censors should work with Prof
Prideaux to develop a model to support
the implementation of the reviews in the
short term.
The review also indicated that the
workload for the College’s examinations
was significant and that the College
should look for ways to increase
member involvement and thus provide
better transparency for examination
development.
The Task Force supported the
recent progress in implementing the
recommendations which included
changes within the Clinical Radiology
Examination Review Panel (CRERP),
extending its membership to include
two co-leads in each body system and
Pathology. In addition to the increase
of membership, additional initiatives to
be undertaken by the Panel included
increased responsibility for Lead
Examiners in managing and liaising with
respective examiner groups, observation
and back up for Viva examinations by
Leads where possible and proposed
changes to the examiner training
pathway, including dedicated training
days.
In radiation oncology, the Phase 1
Leads and Chief Censor have instigated
a more collaborative process for
blueprinting, and for both the Phase
1 and Phase 2 examiners, work has
commenced on improving detail in the
exam marking templates.
While formal work is yet to commence
on the recommendations related
to constructive alignment and
programmatic assessment, the Task
Force considered initiatives and strategy
to recruit members to oversee and
facilitate this project.
In radiation oncology, the continuum of
training for Anatomy, Contouring and
Planning had been identified as the
recommended exemplar to commence
programmatic assessment and following
the RO Planning Day the Phase 1
competencies currently assessed via
Clinical Assignments was also identified as
a potential avenue for initial development
of a programmatic approach.
A small subcommittee within Clinical
Radiology has been established
to review the research training
and assessment program and has
been identified as an opportunity
to implement Prof Prideaux’s
recommendations in the research
component of the training program,
including the formation of learning
outcomes. These will underpin the
various assessment and teaching tools,
to develop a robust and well-targeted
assessment framework. It is anticipated
that the Research review will work
concurrently with the image reporting
exemplar of programmatic assessment
originally proposed by Prof Prideaux.
Mr Adam Rayment has been appointed
as Manager, Special Projects, to lead
the project team that will work on
implementing the recommendations
while overseeing and maintaining the
current activities of our examinations
and assessments.
The Task Force will meet again in August.
If you have any questions
regarding the review, please
contact the Chief Censors c/o
Mr Adam Rayment, Manager,
Special Projects, at the College
on