Online assessment: Concept and applications

Assessment is resource intensive and needs careful evaluation and response to a learner's objectives and details of how the target was achieved. Although in medical training, assessment is largely conducted in offline mode, except for some computerbased formative assessment in certain specific areas, current COVID-19 crisis has opened the doors for introducing online innovations for assessment of students. Online assessment provides computer rich, comprehensive, formative feedback that can scaffold the learning process and helps the learner to self-evaluate and enhance their learning outcome while preparing for summative assessment. It also eliminates the inconvenience due to rudimentary, traditional clinical assessments, for example, the need for examination halls, printed paper, and accommodation, travel and subsistence for both invigilator and candidate. The bottom line of using e-assessment tools in the field of medical education is that it offers substantial potential benefits but needs to be carefully managed to minimise potential risks. This article seeks to revisit basic concepts of e-assessments and the ways in which it can support learners to develop domain knowledge and professional skills with the hope of encouraging thought and reflection among medical educators.