Advantages
Caters to student interests and diversity by incorporating personalised,
creative
tasks, whilst also maintaining an academically rigorous assessment rubric and outcomes.
Helps to produce graduates with effective
written
communication skills and proficiencies in critical thinking and evaluation, both core UQ graduate attributes. Well suited to all HaSS gateway courses as it teaches fundamental writing skills and develops capacities in
critical reflection
.
Challenges
Some students may feel as though they should be marked on the creative element of the task as otherwise they are not being rewarded for their effort – make sure to explain the pedagogical reasons for marking the reflection rather than piece (for examples problems of subjectivity when marking creative pieces, developing student's ability to justify and explain their creative and strategic choices related to a task).
How it supports academic integrity
In WRIT1005, this assessment is paired with weekly journals entries that are cites in class – this may act as a deterrent to misconduct by evidencing the development of student's ideas. The personalised, creative nature of this task may encourage in students a sense of interests and ownership – potentially reducing the risk of the task being outsourced.