In Phase 2 (the clinical years) of the MD program in the Faculty of Medicine, students collect evidence of observed practice of core clinical skills - Mini Clinical Evaluation Exercise (Mini-CEX), Direct Observed Procedural Skills (DOPS) and Compulsory Observed Procedural Skills (COPS). They also lodge Clinical Participation Assessments for each clinical rotation. The overarching aims of the Workplace Learning Portfolio course are intern readiness, to be observed practicing core skills and receive feedback, and to use that feedback to continue to grow and develop.

Designed with an explicit focus on developing writing skills in first year students, this assessment adopts a design approach to a staged writing project. This assessment is divided into several scaffolded tasks that must be completed and submitted cumulatively throughout the semester.

In this summative e-delivered assessment students develop a case formulation in which they synthesise key aspects of a written vignette to provide a cohesive narrative of the reasons for the clinical presentation and vulnerability and strengths of the individual described in the vignette, adhering to strict character limits.

Students complete their exam papers whilst being invigilated through Zoom focus mode which allows not only a view of the student and their immediate surrounds, but also allows for the student’s screen to be shared with staff.