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Live question and answer session following a live performance, presentation, placement or submission of an artefact.

Type = Question and Answer segment following presentation, submission or placement

Category = In person - secured

This could be constructed as two separate tasks, such as an Open (Lane 2) assessment where a student makes a presentation using generative AI tools and a Secure (Lane 1) assessment where a Q&A is used to assure the assessor that the student has the required knowledge. The information on this page relates exclusively to the secure, in person Question and Answer assessment task.

Description

This assessment evaluates students’ ability to articulate and defend their ideas in response to questions following a live presentation, submission of a piece of work, or a placement activity. The Question and Answer segment is tailored to evaluate the communication and defence of ideas related to the work presented and aims to assess the student’s understanding of their work, communication skills, and the ability to engage with audience or panel questions effectively.

The questions asked are at the discretion of the panel and not set as they might be in an Oral Exam or Oral Test, so this very much relies on the skill of the panel to ensure each student is given an equitable opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding. While both a Question and Answer segment and an Oral assessment involve the assessment of oral communication and critical engagement, the Question and Answer segment is tied to a specific deliverable or activity, whereas the Oral assessment is a broader evaluative exercise focusing on subject mastery.

Meaningful engagement with AI

Preparation assistance: Encourage students to use AI tools to anticipate potential questions based on their presentation content, submission or placement.
Practice simulations: Utilise AI-driven platforms to simulate Q&A sessions, helping students practice responses and improve delivery.
Real-time feedback: Allow supervised AI tools to provide instant feedback on students’ responses during practice sessions.

Examples

Post-presentation defence: Students answer questions from an audience or panel to clarify and expand on their presentation content.
Post-submission oral examination: Following the submission of a research paper or project, students engage in a Q&A to demonstrate their understanding and depth of knowledge.
Placement Q&A: After a professional placement, students respond to questions about their experiences, decisions, and applications of theoretical knowledge.
Multimedia explanation: Students present and defend multimedia projects, such as videos, animations, or digital portfolios.

Groupwork opportunities

Collaborative presentations: Allow students to work in groups to prepare and present joint projects, with each member participating in the Q&A.
Group reflection: After the segment, organise group debriefs to discuss the effectiveness of responses and strategies for improvement.
Panel discussions: Use group Q&A sessions to assess collaborative engagement and collective problem-solving.

For ideas, see Q&A following presentation, submission or placement: Integrated Example