Innovative design wraps the MBA in AAA

Background

The Holistic Design Process

CoBL’s holistic learning design process aims to create a connected learning experience within a program, collaboratively aligning assessments, learning activities and educational technologies across courses. It creates a shared narrative that interweaves encompassing elements, like industry partnered learning, academic integrity and technology, through “holistic wraps”. These wraps offer multiple learning avenues to develop RMIT Capabilities and industry-specific knowledge and skills.

This learning journey is then visually mapped through "Learning Arches”. These arches connect program narratives and wraps within each course, highlighting key skills, knowledge and values that build graduate capabilities. This holistic approach minimises redundancy in course activities and assessments, while the Learning Arches keep students actively engaged in their learning journey.

Active, Applied and Authentic (AAA) Assessments

The program and Learning Design teams plotted out the assessments across the courses in the MBA and explored opportunities to enhance student engagement (active learning) increase collaboration (applied learning) and embed real world problem solving (authentic learning). Adjustments to assessments included switching from a static report to a recorded interview to engage students in demonstrating their knowledge; moving from a written reflection to a vodcast reflection to boost the ‘authentic’ voice and substituting a PowerPoint presentation with an in-class industry led hackathon to solve a real-world problem.

AAA Learning Activites 

Using the assessments as a starting point, the program team investigated how the learning activities could use real world technologies, processes, and practices to develop the required skills and knowledge to complete the assessments. This had the dual benefit of developing students’ employability whilst also upskilling them in use of digital technologies. Re-designed learning activities included leveraging Virtual Reality tools to allow students to learn experientially by participating in realistic work scenarios such as attending strategy meetings, contributing to presentations and problem solving with industry experts.