Methods of the Assessment of Learning Outcomes and

Graduate Attributes

SAVEETHA INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL AND

TECHNICAL SCIENCES
 Methods of the assessment of learning outcomes and graduate
attributes followed at SIMATS

The constituent colleges at SIMATS have clearly formulated drafted the graduate
attributes strictly adhering to the guidelines of the respective council. Students are
evaluated based on the following criteria ensuring critical assessment of learning
outcomes and graduate attributes by following various examination procedures.

The following are the assessment methods used in SIMATS for evaluating the
learning outcomes and graduate attributes

EDB/CA Method

Surpassing the traditional examination pattern of using multiple choice questions, at

Saveetha dental college, we have introduced fill ups to cultivate conceptual learning
and promote extensive intricate learning among the students. Innovative modes of
Concept mapping for holistic understanding of the subject is followed to evaluate
the learning outcomes of the course. Such strategies are expected to augment critical
appraisal & reflective thinking to foster higher thinking capabilities in students.

Inclusion of Viva voce

The school of law at SIMATS integrated viva voce in the examination first of its kind
in India to better assess the students and facilitate understanding and expertise in
handling complex situations. Case based learning modules are also followed. GATE
training is also followed in engineering school to expose the students to an
environment similar to competitive examination and assist in their preparation.

MCQ Module

It is an intensive and comprehensive student training program offered to dental

undergraduate students to equip and orient themselves to the competitive
postgraduate and licentiate examinations.

Formative and summative assessments

Formative and Summative assessments measure every academic and clinical domain
involved in the curriculum ranging from grading the scores in the tests and
examinations, grading their research, projects undertaken, extracurricular activities
thus enabling a perfect and holistic approach in grading students. At SIMATS,
emphasis is given to formative assessment over summative type with a vision of
rewarding the hard work invested by students throughout the year rather than
assessing the performance in a single examination.

Strong emphasis is placed on formative assessment with the aim to identify the
students strengths and weaknesses and the area of improvement. The strong
educational policy at SIMATS assists the faculty in recognizing the gaps in
understanding among students, where they are struggling and finding ways to
improve the performance by addressing the problems in a much sustained manner.
Students are graded for their performance in class work, project/research, term
paper which constitutes the theoretical basis and they are also evaluated in
clinical/laboratory exam which constitutes the practical skills. Altogether, these
parameters are assessed in summative assessment. Such an assessment ensures the
students to perform more effectively and efficiently. At SIMATS, the educational
system ensures maximum weightage is given to formative assessment rather than
summative assessment. It helps students to shape learning by metacognition and to
improve their performance. By wrapping the academic sessions with formative
assessment, the learning outcomes reach the students with ease.

The following table is the assessment pattern followed at SIMATS across its
constituent colleges:

Program Summative Score Formative Total Score

Score

Medical UG (MBBS) 300 100 400

Dental UG (BDS) 200 300 500

Dental PG (MDS) 600 3400 4000

Engg UG ( All Branches) 200 300 500

Engg PG 30 70 100

Architecture (UG) 300 600 900

Nursing UG 175 125 300

Nursing PG 175 125 300

Law UG 100 100 200

Law PG 100 100 200

Arts UG 300 300 600

Physiotherapy UG 120 180 300

Physiotherapy PG 120 180 300

Occupational Therapy UG 100 50 150

Occupational Therapy PG 250 50 300

EXIT Module

Saveetha Medical College trains its students in various clinical and academic aspects
to empower the students to clear the licentiate and post graduate exams proposed by
the Government of India. This training will help them in clearing the other overseas
examinations conducted globally.

OSCE/OSPE

Objective Structured Clinical /Practical Examination is a refined grading system that

grades every step /answer in written and clinical examination objectively with
rubrics calibrated rather than a subjective type of evaluation.

Workplace and Competency based assessment

At SIMATS, a formative assessment for workplace and competency which assess the
performance of the students in their clinics and workplaces which enables the
students to become better. Clinical Performance of the students in clinics & wards
are assessed and patient feedback is obtained in Medical and Dental college
hospitals. This will greatly help in transparent and precise assessment of
temperament, ethics and behaviour of the students.

Graduate Review Board

Each and every student is required to go through the Graduate Review Board (GRB)
wherein they prepare a collective academic, clinical and research work done during
their training. All this data compiled together to be made as a book which serves to
be valuable data to the students interested in pursuing Higher education or even job
opportunities.

Website Link: https://saveethadental.com/associate-dean-of-clinics

Self-assessment

Self-assessment scoring and credentials are done by the students and their periodic
assessment by the staff are done to further empower the students in appraising their
performance and becoming better.
 Assessment Platforms Integrating IT

ARMS

Academic Record Management System (ARMS) is a very versatile and robust

software that manages all the academic requirements from attendance, grading,
tests, calculation of internal assessment marks along with weightage, generation of
hall tickets, no due clearance for examination and declaration of results.

This is an excellent tool to promote metacognition and self evaluation among the
student population. All the students have a unique login into ARMS and can track
their performance. Their progress throughout the academic year is self monitored
and this aids in improving their performance in a more consistent route by
understanding the areas requiring improvement. High speed internet access is
available in the campus and in the hostel premises which enables students to access
these facilities with ease.
Link to ARMS: http://arms.sdc.saveetha.com/

DIAS
Dental information archiving software (DIAS) is a clinical management system that
records the clinical examination, diagnosis, treatment planning, the treatment given,
the grading of treatment procedure, incorporation of all photographic and
radiographic records of the patients. This will ensure perfect record maintenance for
the patients. The patients records are digitized in DIAS, which collects data on the
daily clinical work performed by each student. It provides the data of the number of
procedures which facilitates in training the students. All procedures are graded
based on the clinical performance of the students. The barriers to clinical work can
be recognized from this data and remedial measures can be taken to overcome the
same.
The following are the images of the DIAS software followed at saveetha dental
college and hospitals.
 Link to DIAS: https://dias.sdc.saveetha.com/

MOODLE

MOODLE is an online platform that operates on intranet instead of internet. This is used for
classwork and examination assessment online. The system is very robust and secure and it
can precisely calibrate grades with weighted averages, negative marking, shuffling the
questions, randomizing answers in multiple choice questions thus making it fool proof. It is
a very and very secure and reliable tool in online examinations. The students undergoing
NEXT modules are trained with MOODLE.

VIRSA -Virtual designing

The students are trained in preclinical Prosthodontics and preclinical conservative dentistry
and Endodontics in virtual models in VIRSA lab. They are subjected to a practical
examination using the same. This is first of its kind in Indian Dental Colleges.
VIRSA facility at Saveetha Dental College
Weblink: https://saveethadental.com

Integrating CAD/CAM technology

Computer Aided Designing and Computer Aided Manufacturing are extensively

used in the TESSELLATION center at saveetha dental college and hospitals. The
students are adequately trained in digital designing and milling of dental prostheses,
splints and invisaligns for orthodontic treatment. After multiple training sessions,
they are evaluated by a module based examination utilizing the same platform.