One of the most common criticisms of law students on clinical placements is that they lack telephone communication skills. Speaking confidently over the telephone is an important part of working with clients, especially in law where advice is often provided over the phone. The 'phone a friend' task meets two aims at once: ensuring students have prepared for class, and encouraging them to develop their oral communication skills when using the telephone.

Students access on-line interactive simulations that allow the exploration of physical systems. They have control over the key parameters which they can actively change and observe the impact on the system under study. The assessment item requires them to explore a particular aspect of the simulation, demonstrating an understanding of the underlying physical processes. A variety of simulations are available across the internet for use across different discipline areas.

One of my elective law courses, Asian Legal Systems, presented a challenge. As well as enabling students understand how law and legal institutions in Asia operate in different and distinctive ways, the design of this comparative law course was to facilitate discussion and the sharing of perspectives thus maximising student input. Keeping these dynamics alive in Zoom classes led to several modifications in assessment.

In this progressive assessment students write a 1200 word argumentative essay in a supported learning environment. This assessment's innovation lies in its pedagogical underpinnings and the teaching environment in which it is delivered. Students complete weekly activities in argument mapping, effective communication, and critical reasoning as progressive learning tools to construct their essay.

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.

Students use artifacts as points of inspiration for short (500 word) written pieces relevant to their discipline. Students are marked on their written expression and adherence to conventions of the genre. Works are also recited during tutorials and students marked on how well they engage others through their spoken delivery.

Developed as an authentic assessment that simulates analytical skills as used in vocational and academic settings, this task has students analyse a real or created assemblage - a group of disciplinary-relevant artefacts, (e.g. in Archaeology, cultural objects, tools or skeletal remains from a specific site) to produce a written report.

Students are required to complete an individual assignment (20%) on conducting fundamental analysis of a listed company. This company will later be included in the team project (20%) for students to conduct extensive analysis. The team project is followed by a live Q&A session (10%) and a compulsory peer assessment evaluation. These authentic assessments use real-world data to encourage students to think critically and apply textbook-based knowledge to real-world situations.

Authentic assessment, group / team work, environmental impact on public health, improving health outcomes, vlogging, scaffolding, presentation, applying learning to practice, linking course materials and learning activities with the learning objectives.

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.