CONTEMPORARY ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION STRATEGIES IN PHYSIOTHERAPY EDUCATION

Abstract

Assessment is a cornerstone of professional education, serving as the principal mechanism through which educators gauge student learning and students gauge their own progress toward clinical competence. In physiotherapy education, assessment strategies must reflect the multidimensional nature of professional practice — encompassing theoretical knowledge, clinical reasoning, psychomotor skill, and professional behaviour. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the assessment and evaluation strategies employed in physiotherapy education, examining their theoretical underpinnings, practical applications, strengths, and limitations. Topics include formative and summative assessment, Miller's Pyramid of clinical competence, written and clinical assessment formats, workplace-based assessment, portfolio-based evaluation, peer and self-assessment, the centrality of feedback, technology-enhanced assessment, and quality assurance in assessment design. The chapter draws on peer-reviewed evidence and contemporary frameworks to offer physiotherapy educators and students a rigorous, accessible resource for understanding and improving assessment practice.