We report on a mixed-method study that compared students' perceptions of summative assessment across two distinct disciplines--education and mathematics, at two research-intensive institutions in the UK. The disciplines chosen represent opposing positions in Biglan's classification of academic disciplines, as well as having very different…

The research described here investigated the quality and characteristics of peer feedback given on a draft piece of writing in the context of an undergraduate summative assignment. It also investigated whether the recipients made use of the feedback, with the aim of discovering whether some types of feedback were used in preference to others. The…

The creation of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) represents a significant development concerning the teaching mission of the university in the UK. This paper considers the background to, and the development of, the TEF. It explains the context from which the TEF emerged and unpacks a series of rationales which illustrate the need for, and…

The question of how academics in higher education institutions demonstrate they have the ability to teach and provide a high quality learning experience challenges the sector. Within this context, the use of professional dialogue for recognising teaching expertise is growing. This qualitative research explored how 16 academics valued their…

Different conceptualizations exist about the components of the knowledge teachers need to teach mathematics with professional consciousness, and a researcher needs to describe and assess that knowledge. The fact, however, is that different conceptualizations respond to different needs, and thus, the variety is even a chance to develop the field…

The study investigates how higher education staff understand assessment, and the relationship between these understandings and their assessment practices. Nine individuals attended a workshop that guided them through the creation of a concept map about assessment, which was subsequently discussed in one-to-one semi-structured interviews. We found…

This research explores the different types of motivation that inspired students to engage in an online peer-assisted learning (PAL) leader role. An interdisciplinary online PAL pilot programme at a university in the United Kingdom was reviewed to investigate the experience and perceptions of voluntary online PAL leaders. The purpose of the study…

This article reports on the qualitative findings of a UK-wide survey of learning technologists and their recent struggles of supporting attempts for digital resettlement of learning, teaching and assessment in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, underlining the frailties of universities in the terms of crisis management and cultural and…

This paper examines, from a psychological perspective, why some young people may diagnose themselves with a mental health condition or neurodevelopmental difference after engaging with TikTok content. The article joins the discourse around TikTok self-diagnosis among adolescents, which has circulated since 2022, and offers alternative…

Selective mutism (SM) and autism frequently co-occur together, exacerbating social communication deficits and associated anxiety. However, professionals have lacked a readiness to diagnose SM and autism together, making the need to understand parental experiences of caring for a child with SM and autism crucial. The current study utilised…

HE institutions persistently seek to increase student engagement and satisfaction with assessment feedback, but with limited success. This study identifies the attributes of good feedback from the perspective of recipients. In a distinctive participatory research design, student participants were invited to bring along actual examples of feedback…

The approach that students take in their studies at university is critical not only for their academic success but is equally important in life-long learning for their career and professional development. Cognitive science has demonstrated that retesting oneself on material when learning enhances and promotes greater retention of knowledge…

Student learning outcomes assessment examines whether programs cover the material stated in their learning goals, whether students are learning the material, and the impact on student retention, graduation, post-graduation outcomes, and institutional accreditation, with the aim of providing faculty with data that can be used to help programs…

UK higher education has seen a shift towards greater businesslike operations and accountability, with increasingly specialised support roles and fewer 'generalist' administrators; however, professional training, structured career development and planning, and opportunities for continuing professional development (CPD) have been less well…

The purpose of this Delphi-study was to establish the face and content validity of 10 movement skills, each with four evaluation criteria, to create the Children Focused Injury Risk Screening Tool (ChildFIRST) for 8-12-year-old children. We asked an international expert panel (n = 22) to validate a series of movement skills and evaluation…