Assessment methodAuthentic 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.

The assessment consists of 5 equally weighted and separate policy-briefing notes over the course of one semester. The topics and questions are taken from real-world economics issues that are uniquely chosen prior to the semester commencing. The questions normally ask for critical evaluation of an existing economic issue as well as a novel policy recommendation to improve society. In order to foster the desired skills, only the best 4 out of 5 assessments are used for grading and a feed-forward approach is used for feedback. Students obtain individualised feedback for each assessment that is both specific to the question and generic for the transfer and improvement of skills in the following assessment. Aggregate feedback is also provided to students that explains what was done well, not so well, and the key aspects that can be improved. As students can benchmark their assessment relative to the class, additional learning occurs post-grading as to their knowledge gaps and other approaches/strategies that could have been attempted.