continual assessment e-learning tool launched

The Royal College of General Practicitioners has launched an online e-learning tool as a practical means to identify strengths, weaknesses and specific educational needs for it's members and provide a means of continual assessment and self-learning. It is the first time that such a tool has been used by one of the medical colleges.

Ever tightening legislation and regulation means that continual learning and professional development is fundamental to membership of all professional organisations and this can easily be applied to other professions, including Law and Accounting.

Over time, new questions and topics can be added to keep the test up to date and a centralised database of all results can be maintained to inform future learning products, new questions and alternative subject areas.

A peer review facility allows users to compare score and certificate of completion provides evidence for personal development. The tool can also be used as a training and testing tool for students to work towards postgraduate exams, vivas and as distance learning tools.

Called the 'PEP ekit' it builds on the very successful PEP 2000 CD Rom, developed by RCGP Scotland five years ago, well in advance of the GMC’s timescales for the introduction of compulsory appraisal and regulation.

www.pep-ekit.org.uk