An Alternative Laboratory Assessment Approach for Multimedia Modules in a Transnational Education (TNE) Programme during COVID-19

Experimentation is a key component of any engineering education, and it can be either hardware or simulation (software) based experiments or mixed. While the teaching and learning are provided in an alternative manner (mostly online) for ensuring the continuity of education and the student learning experiences due to the COVID-19 pandemic, both hardware and software based laboratory assessments must also be conducted in an alternative manner. In this paper, we share and discuss a systematic approach as an alternative laboratory assessment (ALA) for Multimedia Engineering modules in the Transnational Education (TNE) programme between Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and Beijing University of Post and Telecommunications (BUPT). We have conducted this study to verify how the ALA using the systematic approach for two multimedia modules have achieved the intended learning outcomes. Based on the quantitative analysis, we have suggested how we can improve the laboratory assessment in the alternative approach.