This course equips medical educators and learning specialists with the knowledge and skills to effectively use the NBME INSIGHTS® dashboard to support student success across the medical education continuum. Developed in collaboration with the Medical Education Learning Specialists (MELS) Group, the course begins with an introduction to the INSIGHTS® platform, guiding learners through its navigation and core features. Participants will explore how to interpret assessment data, compare feedback reports, and identify performance trends using real-world examples from the INSIGHTS® interactive demo. The course culminates in practical strategies for advising students, including how to tailor study plans, assess readiness for USMLE Step exams, and support learners at varying performance levels. By the end, educators will be prepared to integrate INSIGHTS® into personalized, data-informed advising practices that foster self-directed learning and academic growth.  

Learn More About Your Course Instructors

Kristen M. Coppola, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Rutgers, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. She also serves as the Chair of the Association of Medical Education Learning Specialists (MELS), a national community of professionals who provide academic support to students in MD and DO programs. She is a Senior Research Associate in the Office of Advancing Learning Teaching and Assessment and the Director of the Distinction in Medical Education program. She earned her Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology and was a post-doctoral fellow at Brown University’s Center for Gerontology and Health Care Research.

Kiely Madhavan, Ph.D., is a Learning Specialist in the Office of Student Affairs at Creighton University School of Medicine and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medical Education. She also serves as the Chair Elect of the Association of Medical Education Learning Specialists (MELS). She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and completed a post-doctoral residency in Neuropsychology. 

Module Learning Goals  

• Identify different score reports located in the INSIGHTS platform and describe similarities and differences between them.
• Understand the features available for score interpretation and how to utilize them for advising.
• Compare/Contrast uses of a typical score report and INSIGHTS tools.
• Analyze a score report for a specific student and describe strengths and weaknesses based on information found on the INSIGHTS platform.
• Apply INSIGHTS tools for advising in longitudinal progress appointments, USMLE Step exams, and Clerkships.
• Formulate effective advising questions that prompt students to reflect on their performance, study strategies, and next steps.