T3: A tool for trainee progress tracking, evaluation, and assessment

Overview

T3 is a web-based application conceived and developed by the Office of Biomedical Graduate Education (OBGE) that documents and monitors training progress of students enrolled in Duke SoM biomedical research PhD programs.

Purpose

T3 captures critical elements of the training experience: lab rotations, affiliation with faculty mentor, preliminary examination, annual committee meetings, and dissertation defense. T3 provides ongoing data collection and utilizes competency- based learning assessment aligned to major milestone events. Students, faculty, and training program leaders can follow levels of competency that should be strengthened over the length of training. T3 identifies deficiencies in specific learning areas early so that the trainee and mentor can work on attaining higher levels of mastery during the remaining training period. Overall, T3 offers transparency of expectations for students and faculty and ensures clear, consistent, and standardized metrics for trainees within and across programs when evaluating development and progress toward degree.

These forms, based on recommendations from national education organizations, including National Academy of Science and Medicine (NASM), represent core competencies in skills development and training that are necessary for PhD students to be successful in the 21st century.

Key Features

• Captures critical elements of the training experience:
  • lab rotations
  • affiliation with faculty mentor
  • preliminary examination
  • annual committee meetings
  • dissertation defense
  • professional development
• Allows for transparency of expectations for students and faculty
• Provides clear, consistent, and standardized metrics for evaluating trainee development and progress toward degree
• Utilizes competency-based learning assessment for major milestone events
• Provides detailed information about available research mentors, including research interests, mentoring philosophy, mentor training, and availability
• Provides ongoing data collection