(101) Oops Tokens: Fostering Inclusivity and Flexibility in Pharmacy Education

Objective : To design, implement, and assess an inclusive, flexible pedagogical practice, “Oops Tokens,” where instead of entirely forfeiting an assignment, students have the chance to demonstrate their learning while acknowledging their external pressures.

Methods: At the beginning of the semester, each student was provided with two “Oops Tokens,” one for unexcused late work (allowed students to turn in an assignment up to 72 hours without penalty) and one for an assignment redo (to improve their grade after receiving feedback). Additional parameters were placed on the use of tokens. For example, they could not be used on the final class project. At the end of a seminar course, first-year pharmacy students provided written reflections regarding their experiences with and perceptions of the “Oops Tokens” model. Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) methodology was utilized to assess responses. A team of researchers, including both pharmacy education instructors and a CQR expert serving as the auditor, systematically coded and categorized the data to develop themes.

Results: The CQR analysis of student evaluations revealed four prominent themes: flexibility, accountability, alleviating student stress, growing and improving through mistakes, and empathy in education.

Conclusions: The "Oops Tokens" approach offers a promising, student-centered strategy for fostering inclusivity and flexibility with boundaries. By providing opportunities for students to demonstrate their learning despite various external barriers, this pedagogical practice promotes accountability while alleviating stress and promoting growth. Further research is warranted to explore the long-term impact of this approach and to investigate its potential for application in other educational settings. Ultimately, the "Oops Tokens" model represents a step towards creating a more equitable and supportive learning environment that recognizes the diverse needs and experiences of pharmacy students.