Evaluating the effectiveness of an organisational communication assessment using frameworks from cognitive learning theory and authentic assessment

This paper evaluates the learning aims and outcomes of a particular Organisational Communicationassessment using frameworks from cognitive learning theory and authentic assessment. The assessment tasks students to write a paper that describes and analyses the structure and culture of an organisation and makes recommendations for change using the research methods of interviews and observations. It is believed that the assessment develops students’ ability to represent organisational problems at a deeper level since they are researching the values and underlying assumptions upon which organisations operate. Further, it is believed that the students as a group are producing a higher quality of work on this assessment because its authentic workplace features make it more relevant to them. Research from Stevenson (1994) on cognitive learning theory and from Gulikers, Bastiaens, andKirschner (2004) on authentic assessment are used to evaluate the assessment.