Centre for Research in Assessment and Digital Learning (CRADLE)
About CRADLE
The Centre for Research in Assessment and Digital Learning (CRADLE) investigates improvements in higher education assessment in the context of a rapidly expanding digital environment. Led by Alfred Deakin Professor David Boud – currently the world’s leading higher education researcher – and Professor Phillip Dawson, CRADLE’s main role is to research assessment practices in the changing settings of education, which are increasingly embracing digital learning.

Research themes
CRADLE’s underpinning premise is improving learning in higher and professional education. The Centre has three broad and intersecting research themes:
- assessing for learning
- learning in a digital world
- learning through, and for, work.
Our current programs of research are:
- The digital world and its impact on learning and teaching
- Feedback and feedback practices
- Learning in and for the workplace
- Evaluative judgement
- Assessment security and academic integrity
- Inclusion and belonging in a digital world
- Representation in and beyond assessment
Throughout these programs, we use cross-cutting approaches, including innovative methodological and theoretical approaches and knowledge transition. We collaborate with Deakin faculties and divisions and also work with a range of industry partners and international collaborators.
The CRADLE team
Director
Alfred Deakin Professor David Boud
Associate Director
Professor Phillip Dawson
Professor, Research
Professor Margaret Bearman
Associate Professor in Educational Research
Professor Rola Ajjawi
Senior Research Fellow
Dr Joanna Tai
Research Manager
Dr Helen Walker
Associate Research Fellow
Kevin Dullaghan