Developed as an assessment for learning (rather than assessment of learning), this scaffolded task prompts students to consider how social theory is brought to bear through personal narratives. Students use digital platforms (e.g. Pinterest) to create a fictional character profile which becomes a point of reference for progressive tutorial activities.

This assessment introduces students to the theories, methodologies, and technologies related to the collection, modelling and analysis of digital social data. Students are required to operate a variety of data curation and analysis software systems to produce a dataset, and then perform both qualitative and quantitative analyses of these datasets.

In small groups students present an article review in dedicated tutorial time. Groups create a Pinterest page in which they collate and curate digital material relevant to their topic. Audience members use Padlet (an online notation tool) to comment on presentations in real time (via personal smartphones) to inform discussion.

This practice-led technique integrates design/production methods to execute a multifaceted project. The piece can take any form as process is emphasised over output. The technique comprises several scaffolded assessments: an oral pitch/proposal (20%); workbook (10%); portfolio (prototype + report) (50%); and reflection (20%).

Students complete an intensive field project (7-10 days) to produce a professional portfolio of authentic digital and/or written works. Fieldwork involves a course trip to an overseas location or high profile domestic event (e.g. 2014 G20 Summit). Students research and prepare proposals/pitches prior to fieldwork in consultation with course coordinator/s.

In this major research piece, students create a historical research project (in place of a traditional essay) that can be disseminated to a wider, non-academic audience. Approximately 3500 words (or equivalent), the project can take multiple formats including a website, exhibition proposal, eBook, oral history report, travel brochure, or documentary.

As a class students are set a collaborative task to produce a creative item relevant to their discipline (e.g. in MUSC3020, an original Album recorded and produced by students) and attend weekly laboratory sessions focused on relevant skill acquisition. This is scaffolded with written reflections where students outline their contribution.

Likened to a video essay, this technique sees students design and conduct an individual practical or experiential experiment based on course principles, documenting it (including background, rationale, results and implications) in a 10 minute YouTube video. Videos are edited and published online, with some being potentially translated into scholarly publications.

This five part assessment task (presented in a Blackboard learning module) is designed to build foundational research skills, provide meaningful engagement with library resources, and prepare students for a major assessment item.