CASE CONFERENCE AS AN ALTERNATIVE FORM OF THE TERM ASSESSMENT IN THE DISCIPLINE “FOREIGN LANGUAGE” AT THE MEDICAL ACADEMY

Abstract

The article analyzes an experiment testing a game-based term assessment format that is referred to as “Case Conference”. It was used in the experiment as an alternative form of the traditional credit taking in the “Foreign Language” discipline. This format was thoroughly elaborated to foster students’ academic and professional goal-setting which is one of the components of professional direction. The previously created model for developing academic and professional goal-setting was used during the experiment. The results of the conducted research demonstrated high effectiveness of the proposed format. They showed the average credit score for the procedure equal to 4.54, and 57% of students who participated in the experiment indicated a readiness to use a foreign language in their professional activities. The advantages of the “Case Conference” as an alternative form of term assessment include the following: a comprehensive evaluation of all components of the communicative competence, stress reduction, and proximity to real-life professional situations.