Authentic assessment, problem-based learning, feed-forward approach

Business, Economics and Law

Authentic assessment, problem-based learning, feed-forward approach

In this authentic assessment students write a number of 700-word policy briefing notes. The aim is for students to critically evaluate current economic policy and provide their own policy recommendations. The assessment's innovations focus on the ability of students to connect and transfer economic theory to real-world policy problems and how students obtain feedback, which develops their skills over time.

Second year
Class size of 100-500
Open
Adaptations to keep student engagement alive in Zoom

Business, Economics and Law

Adaptations to keep student engagement alive in Zoom

One of my elective law courses, Asian Legal Systems, presented a challenge. As well as enabling students understand how law and legal institutions in Asia operate in different and distinctive ways, the design of this comparative law course was to facilitate discussion and the sharing of perspectives thus maximising student input. Keeping these dynamics alive in Zoom classes led to several modifications in assessment.

Post-graduate
Class size of 80-100
Open
Authentic assessment: An interactive museum exhibit

Science

Authentic assessment: An interactive museum exhibit

Concepts and skills are developed over a semester to design an interactive computer program for a hypothetical museum exhibition. By providing structure while leaving some aspects unspecified, students make creative choices and combine skill sets, and demonstrate mastery to meet the objective of inspiring patrons. Clear and relevant communication to the end-user is a top priority.

First year
Class size of 500+
Open
Presentation of Basic Mixed Methods (Quantitative and Qualitative) Research

Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

Presentation of Basic Mixed Methods (Quantitative and Qualitative) Research

In this assessment students are asked to collect and analyse some basic qualitative and quantitative data from a site of their choosing, and then present their findings. Students are asked to choose a site to collect their data (examples of sites can be provided but they can also be given freedom to choose one that is not listed in the examples). They are then asked to design a research question, collect some basic quantitative data and qualitative data that relates to the themes of the course, conduct some basic analysis (in the case of quantitative typically just some frequencies), link their findings to existing academic literature, and present their findings in their tutorial.

First year
Class size of 80-100
Open
Media Inspired Essay

Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

Media Inspired Essay

In this assessment students choose a piece of contemporary media and discuss the issues it raises using academic literature. Students are given some restrictions on the media they can choose such as what topic the chosen media should discuss, what forms of media they can choose from, or when the media was released. Students select a media item and read it in order to identify an issue, or several related issues, which relate to the themes of the course. Using the issue/s as a foundation they write their own research question and answer it using the academic literature.

Second year
Class size of 80-100
Open
Stakeholder Urban Policies Role-Play Exercise

Science

Stakeholder Urban Policies Role-Play Exercise

In this role-play students learn to position themselves in the roles of different stakeholders, develop strategies for negotiation and decision-making and need to be able to identify interests, goals and power hold by each stakeholder.

Post-graduate
Class size of 80-100
Secure
Group Video Assignment to Demonstrate Clinical Tasks

Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences

Group Video Assignment to Demonstrate Clinical Tasks

In place of a practical exam groups of 4 students record 4 x 7 min video tasks (each student takes the lead role in one task but shares responsibility across all tasks). Filming the video is less stressful than a prac exam, encourages repeated practice and peer assisted learning. Moderation with fewer examiners achieves more consistent marking/feedback.

Second year
Class size of 100-500
Open
Making Policy Decision as a Central Banker

Business, Economics and Law

Making Policy Decision as a Central Banker

In this assessment, students play the role of a central banker. They are required to identify and use appropriate data and information to analyse the state of the Australian economy, decide the next appropriate monetary policy action, and to communicate their decision and rationales in the format of a policy statement similar to the Reserve Bank of Australia's monetary policy media release/statement.

Post-graduate
Class size of 100-500
Open
Professional Experience Learning Reflection

Business, Economics and Law

Professional Experience Learning Reflection

Students are asked to write a reflective essay about their project that includes a description of critical incidents, reflection of personal change, and a supporting visual element.

Post-graduate
Class size of 100-500
Open
Conference Presentation

Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology

Conference Presentation

ENGG1600 is a course which embeds research into the undergraduate degree in first year. Assessment is authentic - no exam - instead students work towards a final conference at which they present and for which they have had to write a conference paper (using Nature guidelines).

First year
Class size of 40-60
Secure