Scientific Poster as Authentic Assessment in Medical Microbiology: A Student Reflection.

Authors

DOI: https://doi.org/10.6018/edumed.733371
Keywords: medical microbiology, scientific poster, authentic assessment, scientific communication, medical students

Abstract

In Medical Microbiology, learning can be reduced to recalling names, structures, pathogenic mechanisms, and treatments. This article presents a collective academic reflection by four students on the development and defense of a scientific poster addressing the effectiveness of human papillomavirus vaccination in Latin America within a One Health poster session. No formal effectiveness evaluation or systematic analysis of educational outcomes was conducted. From our perspective, the activity required us to define a problem, select and prioritize evidence, connect microbiological content with immunopathology and public health, and communicate a concise and defensible scientific argument. We also recognized challenges related to unequal experience in literature searching and critical reading, an initial tendency to overcrowd the poster, uneven workload distribution, and anxiety during the defense. We consider that this task may approximate authentic assessment when supported by transparent criteria, staged submissions, feedback, and both individual and group appraisal. These reflections represent only the authors' experience and do not demonstrate that posters are superior to other assessment methods.

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Published
29-09-2026
How to Cite
Vera Briones, M. V., Segura Montenegro, A. G., Zambrano Loor, Z. A., Safadi Figueroa, A. Y., & Culcay Delgado, J. I. (2026). Scientific Poster as Authentic Assessment in Medical Microbiology: A Student Reflection. Spanish Journal of Medical Education, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.6018/edumed.733371
Issue
Vol. 10 No. 1 (2026): Online first
Section
Visión estudiantil

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