Showcasing Adobe Express: Supporting digital skills and authentic assessment

Alicia Owen, Andrew Larner and Jason Taylor

Through the Adobe Creative Campus agreement, all staff and students have access to Adobe Express – a cloud-based multimedia tool for video and audio editing, AI image generation, and content creation. Previously, such tools were primarily available only to students in creative industries. The platform provides thousands of stock images and templates for creating social media content, posters, videos, and presentations, with the ability for staff to create custom templates that students can remix.

Adobe Express supports the move toward alternative and authentic forms of assessment outlined in the DELTA strategy, making it easier to set up tasks like video presentations, podcasts, or digital posters instead of traditional text-based assignments. This aligns with the future-focused curriculum and excellent graduate futures agenda, developing the key graduate attribute of digital fluency.

The video highlights accessibility benefits – it’s browser-based, reducing digital poverty concerns and hardware requirements. The intuitive interface makes it accessible for both students and staff new to digital tools. Importantly, Adobe Express provides access to Adobe Firefly, an ethically trained AI that doesn’t infringe copyright, addressing concerns about which AI tools can be safely used in education.

Examples include the MSA Live project, where 40 collaborators across charities and educational institutions use shared templates to facilitate real-world client feedback. Student Jake Vizard describes how Adobe Express helps newer students develop digital skills without being overwhelmed, and supports group work by keeping assets and content organised in one place.