Advantages
Replicates authentic experiences for disciplines where performance work is standard (e.g. drama, creative industries). Encourages critical pedagogical and social justice approaches to assessment as students are marked on engagement with course material rather than solely on the quality of their acting or how they critique other members. Easily transferred to courses where student showcases beyond traditional seminar presentations are desired (especially applicable but by no means limited to creative and performance disciplines).
Challenges
Some students are reluctant to work in groups or will encounter interpersonal issues in group work (these concerns are usually alleviated with the provision of individual marks). Assessing self-reflection can be problematic (but is resolved by crafting specific criteria for this).
Tips for implementation
Staff should encourage students to think laterally about the modalities they use to present this piece (or focus some group exercises to brainstorming various presentation methods).
How it supports academic integrity
Allows students to take ownership over topic of choice or
presentation
modality, which can be a deterrent to academic misconduct (by encouraging engagement). Performances are
scaffolded
with a separate reflexive assessment in which the student must comment on their contribution and experiences. Both are difficult tasks to bypass or outsource (especially when corroborated with group members).