Resources
Assessment Principles: Some possible candidates
Here are some possible candidates for assessment principles that might be used to guide the design of assessment in higher or further education.
Questions to ask yourself about your assessment
Here are seven questions to ask yourself about your assessment and feedback practices
National Student Survey: Improving assessment and feedback
Here is an overview of the National Student Survey 2007 results for assessment and feedback as well as practical tips for improving assessment.
Senior Management Briefing Papers
Brief summaries of the goals, scope and outcomes of the REAP project including recommendations for senior managers interested in using assessment as a catalyst for transformational change:
REAP Briefings - Management Briefing Paper 1: Re-Engineering Assessment Practices in Scottish Higher Education. Full Text
REAP Briefings - Management Briefing Paper 2: Advice on Managing Transformational Change: Course Redesign using ICT.Full Text
REAP Briefings - Management Briefing Paper 3: Assessment as a Driver for Institutional Transformation. Full Text
REAP Briefings - Management Briefing Paper 4: Abrupt Transformation at GCU. Full Text
REAP Briefings - Management Briefing Paper 5: Interactive lectures and Electronic voting systems. Full Text
Papers
Papers focusing on assessment in HE
Nicol. D (2011) Good designs for written feedback. In: Svinicki, M and McKeachie, W J (eds) Teaching Tips: Strategies, Research and Theories for College and University Teachers. 13th edition. International edition. Wadsworth Cengage Learning. ISBN 13:9780495812340 (Available from the author on request, please email d.j.nicol@strath.ac.uk)
Nicol, D (2010) The foundation for graduate attributes: developing self-regulation through self and peer assessment. Published by The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. Full Text
Nicol, D (2010) From monologue to dialogue: improving written feedback in mass higher education. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education. 35(5) pps 501 -517 Abstract Text
Nicol, D (2010) Four recent papers on assessment and feedback with significant implications for practice. QAA Scotland Enhancement Themes. Graduates for the 21st Century. Full Text
Nicol, D and Draper, S (2009) A blueprint for transformational organisational change in higher education: REAP as a case study. In: Mayes, T; Morrison, D; Meller, H; Bullen, P and Oliver, M (eds) Education through technology-enhanced learning. Higher Education Academy. ISBN 978-1-907207-11-2. Full Text
Nicol, D. (2009), Assessment for learner self-regulation: Enhancing achievement in the first year using learning technologies. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 34 (3) pps 335 -352. Abstract Text
Nicol, D and Owen, C (2009) Re-engineering assessment practices: A matrix for curriculum and institutional change. Educational Developments, 10(2), pps 5-10 (Available from the authors on request, please email catherine.owen@strath.ac.uk)
Nicol, D. (2009) Transforming assessment and feedback: enhancing integration and empowerment. Published by The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.
Nicol, D (2008), Technology-supported assessment: A review of research. Upublished manuscript available here: Full Text
Nicol, D. (2007). Laying a foundation for lifelong learning: case studies of e-assessment in large 1st-year classes. British Journal of Educational Technology, 38(4), 668–678.
Nicol, D. (2007). E-assessment by design: using multiple-choice tests to good effect. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 31(1), pp. 53–64. External Link
Nicol, D. (2007). Principles of good assessment and feedback: theory and practice. From the REAP International Online Conference on Assessment Design for Learner Responsibility, 29th-31st May, 2007. Full Text
Draper, S. & Nicol, D. J. (2006). Transformation in e-learning. Short paper corresponds to a talk given at ALT-C, Edinburgh, Sept 5-9, 2006. Full Text
Nicol, D. J. (2006). Increasing success in first year courses: assessment re-design, self-regulation and learning technologies. Paper to be presented at ASCILITE Conference, Sydney, Dec 3-6, 2006 Full Text
Nicol, D. J. & Milligan, C. (2006). Rethinking technology-supported assessment in terms of the seven principles of good feedback practice. In C. Bryan and K. Clegg (Eds), Innovative Assessment in Higher Education, Taylor and Francis Group Ltd, LondonFull Text
Nicol, D.J. & Macfarlane-Dick, D. (2006). Formative assessment and self-regulated learning: A model and seven principles of good feedback practice. Studies in Higher Education, 31(2), 199-218 Full Text
Nicol, D.J. & Macfarlane-Dick, D. (2004). Rethinking formative assessment in HE: a theoretical model and seven principles of good feedback practice. Higher Education Academy
Nicol,D.J. & Boyle, J. T. (2003) Peer Instruction versus Class-wide Discussion in large classes: a comparison of two interaction methods in the wired classroom. Studies in Higher Education 28(4), 457-473 External Link
Boyle, J. T. & Nicol,D.J. (2003) Using classroom communication systems to support interaction and discussion in large class settings. ALT-J - Association for Learning Technology Journal 11(3), 43-57. Full Text
Nicol, D.J. & Coen, M. (2003) A model for evaluating the institutional costs and benefits of ICT initiatives in teaching and learning in higher education. ALT-J - Association for Learning Technology Journal. 11(2), 46-60. (Version submitted to ALT-J)
Publications
Freely available publications on assessment
JISC (2007). Transformation story: Re-engineering Assessment Practices in Scottish Higher Education (REAP).
Websites
Formative Assessment in Science Teaching (FAST) - this website includes instruments designed to evaluate assessment. External Link
Steve Draper's Electronic Voting Systems and interactive lectures - this website contains a wealth of information on electronic voting systems. External Link (See also our own section on Resources > EVS Resources)