Purpose

The NBOME employs the services of hundreds of item-writers who submit new items for review and revision.  The actual items used on COMLEX examinations are the product of multiple review/revision steps in our item development cycle.  An online item-writer training course has been developed to help current and potential item-writers meet the format and content standards of the NBOME as they create items.  This course is open to all current item-writers for the NBOME, all who are interested in writing items for the NBOME, and all faculty at osteopathic schools and colleges. 

Description

The item-writer training course consists of three components:

• Pretest
• Item-writing documentation
• Posttest

The pretest enables a user to test his or her current knowledge of item-writing principles against those used by the NBOME.  This pretest is taken as the first step in the course, allowing each user to evaluate the topics regarding which he or she may need more information.  A numerical score and percentage correct are reported to the user upon completion of the test.

The user is then directed to an NBOME link, in which three documents are available for review:

• A PowerPoint overview is available entitled “Item-Writing Strategies for Medical Educators.” 
• An Item-Writing Workbook summarizes the information and gives examples of flawed items that the user can attempt to identify.  There is also a section in which the user is directed step-by-step as he or she creates a new item.
• An Item-Writing Handbook gives thorough, detailed information regarding all aspects of item-writing.  It reiterates the principles of the other two documents and expands on them. 

Users are encouraged to peruse all three documents, spending time reviewing unfamiliar information and skimming any sections that the user already uses item-writing efforts.

When a user feels comfortable with NBOME item-writing principles, he or she is to request a posttest by sending an email to iwriter@nbome.org to inform the NBOME that he or she has completed reviewing the material and would like to complete the course.  This posttest consists of two sections:  (1) a section consisting of three items, which the user must evaluate to identify existing flaws; and (2) a section in which the user is asked to create two new items based on the principles outlined in the course.  These two new items are reviewed by NBOME staff, and feedback is provided to the user as to how well the items adhere to NBOME item-writing standards.  The user will also receive a numerical, percentage, and pass/fail determination of the flawed-item review.

Upon successful completion of the course, the user is sent a “Certificate of Completion.”  There is one more step that a user can take to become a “Certified Item-Writer.”  He or she may submit ten original items over the course of the next 12 months in order to obtain the status of “Certified NBOME Item-Writer.” 

To Register

Anyone interested in taking the course should send an email indicating interest to iwriter@nbome.org.