Advantages
Caters to diverse learning styles, in which the Pinterest platform allows for written , visual and multimodal pins. Students also have the agency to elect to complete the task using various platforms, or through a traditional essay . Encourages the creative application of theoretical concepts as part of a student-led learning process. Can be usefully appropriated to a variety of courses that deal in social theory, social justice or applied research.
Challenges
Some mediums students use as part of this technique will not be compatible with Turnitin. However, this assessment is also designed with a highly performative aspect in mind, in which students need to physically engage with the task and present and discuss their submissions as part of a peer group. This may act as an indirect deterrent to the outsourcing of work.
Tips for implementation
Staff should not assume the technological proficiency of all students when using various digital platforms. Coordinators should ensure that they themselves have a reasonable understanding of various digital or multimodal platforms they may wish students to use. This will not only ensure that staff are well positioned to offer guidance to students if needed, but will also help to identify the attempted misuse of various platforms (should this occur).
How it supports academic integrity
As a progressive and scaffolded assessment this task would be cumbersome (and costly) to outsource. Given the highly creative focus of this task and the need for students to generate an original character as the basis for subsequent assessment also lessens the risk of plagiarised content.