From rap to TV scripts, from farming to funerals: Exploring Personalised Assessment: Rethinking Submission Formats in an MBA Unit
Authors: Deborah, T., Elvira, B. and Bray, J.
Conference: Fusion Learning Conference
Dates: 7 July 2025
Abstract:Traditional assessment practices often require students to submit work in a uniform format, typically to ensure learning is comparable and therefore fair. However, such standardisation may inadvertently advantage certain learners while constraining others. In response to this tension, the Shaping the Future of Work unit team within an MBA program undertook an alternative approach: students were invited to complete the same assessment task but were free to choose the format or artefact through which they demonstrated their learning. While the personalisation of teaching and assessment has been discussed in the literature (Walkington and Bernacki, 2020), it remains inconsistently applied in higher education practice. This presentation will examine the implementation of this personalised assessment strategy, highlight its pedagogical benefits, explore practical challenges encountered, and showcase examples of student submissions to illustrate the diverse and creative ways learning outcomes can be achieved.
Source: Manual