Combining assessment and learning – structured feedback in the interdisciplin­ary OSCE

Examinations can do more than simply assess skills: they can directly support learning. With this aim, Dr Theresa Maria Meißner (VTG), Dr Katja Matthes (MK1), PD Dr Maren Goeckenjan (GYN) and the MITZ developed, as part of the MeDDrive teaching project ‘OSCE+: FeedForward for Next-Level Education and Clinical Excellence’, a concept for structured oral feedback in the interdisciplinary OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination). This was successfully implemented for the first time from 21 to 23 July 2026.

The interdisciplinary OSCE is the assessment of the block placements in internal medicine, surgery and gynaecology, as well as of the MITZ learning objectives, which the approximately 290 students completed. The aim of the project was to use the OSCE not only for performance assessment but also as a learning opportunity.

The project team developed a structured feedback framework, comprising preparatory feedback training for the approximately 80 examiners, key feedback points for each assessment competence, and supporting materials for implementation. At the same time, the procedure and structure of the interdisciplinary OSCE were adapted to allow for a two-minute, structured feedback session after each examination station.

The evaluation shows that the new format has been very well received by students and examiners. Many students reported that they were able to apply feedback received at one station to the subsequent examination stations – an immediate learning effect even whilst the examination was still in progress.

© MITZ

The project also laid the foundations for embedding feedback permanently within the interdisciplinary OSCE. In doing so, the project contributes to a culture of feedback and assessment that meaningfully combines learning and performance evaluation.