Pedagogical innovation in uncertain times: Redesigning assessments for online delivery, and preparing students for changing industry practices
In this paper, we explore the changes implemented in a professional writing unit in response to both a shift to online teaching and a desire to create a more vocationally focused teaching environment. The redesigned Group Discussion assessment is modelled on a recruitment process used by government...
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| Format: | Book Chapter |
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University of Tasmania, Curtin University and the English Teachers Association of Western Australia
2021
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| Online Access: | https://www.digitalenglish.com.au/articles/connectionsreflections/ http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/86851 |
| _version_ | 1848764878409433088 |
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| author | Henningsgaard, Per O'Leary, Danielle |
| author2 | Milthorpe, Naomi |
| author_facet | Milthorpe, Naomi Henningsgaard, Per O'Leary, Danielle |
| author_sort | Henningsgaard, Per |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | In this paper, we explore the changes implemented in a professional writing unit in response to both a shift to online teaching and a desire to create a more vocationally focused teaching environment. The redesigned Group Discussion assessment is modelled on a recruitment process used by government and large corporations. Students are assigned to groups, presented with previously unseen notes on a crisis, and given 45 minutes to produce a written response. The students are observed during their group work in order to assess their skills in critical thinking, creative thinking, communication, and teamwork. The success of this redesigned assessment—as evidenced by positive student feedback, reduced student anxiety, improved learning outcomes and assessment performance, and improved preparation for changing industry practices—has prompted us to consider implementing similar changes across the curriculum. Therefore, we also discuss what other English subject areas might benefit from a similarly innovative pedagogical approach. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:26:21Z |
| format | Book Chapter |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-86851 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:26:21Z |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publisher | University of Tasmania, Curtin University and the English Teachers Association of Western Australia |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-868512022-01-05T06:35:15Z Pedagogical innovation in uncertain times: Redesigning assessments for online delivery, and preparing students for changing industry practices Henningsgaard, Per O'Leary, Danielle Milthorpe, Naomi Clarke, Robert Jones, Joanne Moore, Robbie 1302 - Curriculum and Pedagogy 3901 - Curriculum and pedagogy assessment design professional writing industry engagement online learning In this paper, we explore the changes implemented in a professional writing unit in response to both a shift to online teaching and a desire to create a more vocationally focused teaching environment. The redesigned Group Discussion assessment is modelled on a recruitment process used by government and large corporations. Students are assigned to groups, presented with previously unseen notes on a crisis, and given 45 minutes to produce a written response. The students are observed during their group work in order to assess their skills in critical thinking, creative thinking, communication, and teamwork. The success of this redesigned assessment—as evidenced by positive student feedback, reduced student anxiety, improved learning outcomes and assessment performance, and improved preparation for changing industry practices—has prompted us to consider implementing similar changes across the curriculum. Therefore, we also discuss what other English subject areas might benefit from a similarly innovative pedagogical approach. 2021 Book Chapter http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/86851 https://www.digitalenglish.com.au/articles/connectionsreflections/ University of Tasmania, Curtin University and the English Teachers Association of Western Australia unknown |
| spellingShingle | 1302 - Curriculum and Pedagogy 3901 - Curriculum and pedagogy assessment design professional writing industry engagement online learning Henningsgaard, Per O'Leary, Danielle Pedagogical innovation in uncertain times: Redesigning assessments for online delivery, and preparing students for changing industry practices |
| title | Pedagogical innovation in uncertain times: Redesigning assessments for online delivery, and preparing students for changing industry practices |
| title_full | Pedagogical innovation in uncertain times: Redesigning assessments for online delivery, and preparing students for changing industry practices |
| title_fullStr | Pedagogical innovation in uncertain times: Redesigning assessments for online delivery, and preparing students for changing industry practices |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pedagogical innovation in uncertain times: Redesigning assessments for online delivery, and preparing students for changing industry practices |
| title_short | Pedagogical innovation in uncertain times: Redesigning assessments for online delivery, and preparing students for changing industry practices |
| title_sort | pedagogical innovation in uncertain times: redesigning assessments for online delivery, and preparing students for changing industry practices |
| topic | 1302 - Curriculum and Pedagogy 3901 - Curriculum and pedagogy assessment design professional writing industry engagement online learning |
| url | https://www.digitalenglish.com.au/articles/connectionsreflections/ http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/86851 |