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.

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.

Concepts and skills are developed over a semester to design an interactive computer program for a hypothetical museum exhibition. By providing structure while leaving some aspects unspecified, students make creative choices and combine skill sets, and demonstrate mastery to meet the objective of inspiring patrons. Clear and relevant communication to the end-user is a top priority.

As a class students are set a collaborative task to produce a creative item relevant to their discipline (e.g. in MUSC3020, an original Album recorded and produced by students) and attend weekly laboratory sessions focused on relevant skill acquisition. This is scaffolded with written reflections where students outline their contribution.

Delivered in an active learning environment, this work-integrated learning experience and authentic assessment task requires preparation of a written and diagrammatic report. Students critically analyse a given construction detail in 4-dimensions using an interactive digital learning environment, then apply their learning to a 3-dimensional analysis and resolution of two construction details derived from a team-based schematic design completed in the previous assignment.

This end-of-semester examination involves providing students with a court ruling on a medical case that most will not have come across until that point. Students are expected to read the case under exam conditions, and bring their learning over the course of the semester to bear on their interpretation of the salient medical and legal points raised, determining their ethical implications. This is then tested over a number of multiple choice questions delivered via Examsoft.

This task sees students participate in a four week Simulation Role Play in an area specific to their discipline of study. Students work in groups to assume the role of specific stakeholders/actors within the simulation. Rather than the simulation itself, students are assessed on an Operation Plan and a Final Report.

In small groups (2-4) students liaise with an external client organisation and conduct stakeholder engagement to produce a report or output that aligns with client needs. In the case of COMU7013, students design, conduct, analyse, and report on, a participatory needs and opportunity assessment relating to a simple, real-world issue.

In groups, students deliver a performance piece on a topic arising from the course. Focusing on creative modalities, students develop an imaginative approach to their presentation such as a video submission, theatrical performance, role play, art exhibition, movie pitch etc. This is accompanied by an individual 500 word critical reflection.

In this major research piece, students create a historical research project (in place of a traditional essay) that can be disseminated to a wider, non-academic audience. Approximately 3500 words (or equivalent), the project can take multiple formats including a website, exhibition proposal, eBook, oral history report, travel brochure, or documentary.