Introducing the Concept of 'Power'

The tool doesn't address issues of power, but we sometimes incorporate it by telling the true story of students who challenge ‘resubmit’ or ‘fail’ assessments on the grounds that their work might not appear acceptable to the tutor but from the student’s viewpoint it is. After acknowledging their good application of the model, we introduce a discussion of power, which, amongst other things, emphasises that there are realities other than the ones being assessed. For students from non-dominant cultural groups, this is very important.