Digital educational environment: Effectiveness of adaptive testing of medical students

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The computer-adaptive approach in testing is becoming more widespread, and research and optimization of algorithms for its work are underway, especially in the pedagogical sphere. According to literature data, adaptive testing has several advantages over traditional linear testing of knowledge, which determined the purpose and objectives of the study. AIM: To assess the feasibility of using an adaptive approach in digital test control of the knowledge of students majoring in Dentistry, through a comparative analysis of their psycho-emotional state, success of the test task completion, and time spent. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, we considered the simplest mechanism of the algorithm (pyramid strategy) to ensure the adaptive operation of a computer test. The study included 446 first-year students of the Moscow State Medical University named after A.I. Evdokimov, who were majoring in dentistry (average age 18.762.26 years), divided into two groups: control group (n=200), in which linear testing was conducted, and experimental group (n=246), in which adaptive testing was conducted. The testing process is implemented through publicly available electronic resources and platforms. RESULTS: As the result of the study the absence of statistically significant differences in all parameters (p 0.05), except for time costs (p 0.05), was determined. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study emphasized the feasibility of an adaptive approach in digital test control of the knowledge of students majoring in Dentistry.