COVID-19 pivot: a reflection on assessments

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe certain choices in assessments, in the digital pivot in response to COVID-19.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is a discursive reflection about one’s personal experience and response to COVID-19.

Findings

Communicating suggestions of the changes in advance for feedback, consistency in maintaining the same assessment formats and styles, and being available in real-time during key assessment tasks are important in providing assurance and certainty to students in a time of great uncertainty and stress. Anticipating resource constraints will help to avoid potential system fails. Developing assessments that are authentic in using real-world company filings, the answers to which cannot be readily searched on the internet can significantly reduce the risk of cheating, especially where examination supervision resources are unavailable.

Research limitations/implications

Course assessment choices may be specific to a particular course and may not be applicable to all courses.

Practical implications

Course assessment choices and the rationales for them, may be of applicability to other educators.

Originality/value

This note describes the authors’ personal experiences in adapting to the learning and teaching in the COVID environment.

Citation

Wong, L. and Zhang, Y. (2021), "COVID-19 pivot: a reflection on assessments", Accounting Research Journal, Vol. 34 No. 3, pp. 357-362. https://doi.org/10.1108/ARJ-08-2020-0232