Revitalizing Assessment: Exploring the benefits and challenges of Viva Voce.

Abstract

In undergraduate and postgraduate taught programs, traditional modes of assessments like student presentations, essays, blogs or reflective writing are more common than viva voces. However, for the Level 7 "Research in Action" unit in marketing communications, students were assessed using a unique approach. They were required to submit a decision tree outlining a research project that would contribute to existing knowledge on a specific issue. Following this, they attended a 20-minute viva to defend their research proposal before the teaching team. This method allowed students to showcase their advanced understanding of research design, critical thinking, and reflective skills through face-to-face oral assessments. Additionally, it enabled lecturers to evaluate students' ability to respond to questions and defend their work effectively, while also mitigating some of challenges associated with AI-generated essays. This talk runs through the practicalities of using a viva voce and some of the pitfalls of the approach.