Technologies to assess complex learning in capstone units: Two case studies

Capstone or final year units ideally provide an opportunity for students to integrate the knowledge and learning experiences from their whole degree program to equip them for dealing with complex situations in the next phases of their careers, whether that is in the workplace or further study. These units scaffold students to synthesise their discipline knowledge with intellectual skills, yet designing the learning and assessment activities can be challenging for academics; firstly in managing an already crowded curricula and secondly in devising assessment strategies that adequately reflect students' achievements in complex domains. This paper describes two case studies from different disciplines in an Australian research-intensive university, which use a range of technologies to support and assess complex learning.