Auto-evaluation and co-evaluation. Experience with fourth-year students of the Medicine career in Pediatrics matter

Abstract

Nowadays it is difficult conceptually rebutting auto-evaluation and co-evaluation if taking into account the arguments laying in their bases and the advantages derived from them. The aim of this work was exposing the experience of putting into practice auto-evaluation and co-evaluation in the evaluative process of fourth-year students of Medicine. We carried out a qualitative-focused research in the Teaching Provincial Pediatric Hospital Eliseo Noel Caamaño, of Matanzas. We worked with a universe of students formed by the students of the six groups of medicine (175), who spent their 20-weeks sub-practice in the miscellaneous service, during 2011-2012 school year. In the course of the first teaching activity they were explained how auto-evaluation and co-evaluation will be put into practice. At the end of the practice, their criteria were measured using the positive/negative/interesting technique. The considerations of students and professors were collected in a group interview. From the students' point of view it was considered positive: feeling motivated because they were active part in the process and more engaged; interesting: highlighting the professors' positive attitude in relation with teaching; and negative: they agreed that not every professor reached a good communicational level. From the part of the professors' staff, they considered that this method application allowed them working in a more effective way in the formation of values and arriving to a predictive diagnosis of the possible final goals to achieve at the end of the matter program. The introduction of auto-evaluation and co-evaluation in the evaluative process was gladly accepted with positive results by students as well as by the professors' staff.