This section seeks to promote discussion on 'innovation' and 'creativity' and examples of different approaches and different mediums will be provided.

The terms ‘creativity’ and ‘innovation’ may be somewhat vague but nonetheless it could be possible to at least locate some common ground:

What is creativity?

Original ideas that add value?

Most of us define innovation and creativity within the limits of our own experience and viewpoints. We begin with a restriction as to what we call innovative and creative, or just plain wrong-headed. 

What is innovation?

Defining what is meant by innovative assessment is notoriously tricky since itsmeaning varies from one subject area or institution to another and over time.

Invention and innovation: an introduction

Keep in mind that what may be innovative for one organisation may be ‘old hat’ for another.

The electric light might be said to be an example of a radical innovation – a new product, process or system resulting from a technological breakthrough, or an application of a technology having a far-reaching impact. Radical innovations can have a widespread and sometimes revolutionary impact on our lives and are said by some to account for technological progress.

Q1. Are there areas in which you seek to inquire creativity in your students? Is this influenced by their 'starting position'? Could 'openness' assist in this respect?

A range of sources such as Digital Britain would say that web 2.0 is such an example and the use of OERs themselves could be considered an innovative approach to teaching and learning. However, it has been recognised that even where web 2.0 skills are included in a curriculum their means of assessment may remain rooted in approaches that were taken prior to this radical innovation. (Powerful Literacies, updated 2011).

An innovative approach to assessment requires challenging current hegemonies and in the case of the social sciences this means addressing the power of the conventional written word. The customary use of rigid word limits may not only lead to excessive burdens on both students and lecturers but may also fail to develop the skills and experience that are now required. The inappropriate monopoly of the written word can also be seen in research findings from the USA, where the Survey of Workplace Skills, Technology, and Management Practices (STAMP) found that less than 15 per cent of workers wrote anything more than five pages long; even for managers and professionals this figure reached only 47 per cent (Handel, 2007).

Examples of Innovative Assessment

Was introducing Wikipedia to the classroom an act of madness leading only to mayhem if not murder?

A useful tool for editing/sharing/colloborating with documents is dropbox

Murder on Porto Beach

A discussion with the creator of this method can be accessed here.

Crime Today

This wiki is very much in its infancy and its use has enabled assessment of the ‘Digital Natives’ or ‘Digital Immigrants’ debate that includes conjecture over the so-called ‘google generation’ or ‘digital dissidents’.  The wiki has developed out of an assessment strategy that replaced the conventional written essay for criminology students that required them to take photographs of 'hidden' crime:

Chemistry FM

Simulations from the University of Glamorgan

The above examples of successful student wikis would appear to have similarities with the following resources:

Enhancing group working and peer assessment through a virtual learning environment

The creation of a wiki in the C4E style can easily be acquired at pbworks wikis and the pbworks training videos will help with their development.

However, there are numerous examples of educational wikis and there is also the opportunity for sharing wiki experiences.

The building on knowledge from what has been found to be successful would seem invaluable for establishing a means of assessment that crosses a variety of boundaries: International E-communication Exchange.

Q2. Are there impenetrable barriers obstructing your use of these types of approaches with your students?