How Assessment Supports Learning: Learning-oriented Assessment in Action invites teachers in higher education to rethink the purposes of assessment and to revise their assessment practices in the interests of improved student learning. It combines practice, theory, research and extensive examples of assessment techniques to support academics in this vital part of their multi-faceted role. This book presents 39 innovative assessment practices from a range of disciplines and located in a clearly articulated theoretical framework. These practices, which can be modified for use in a wide range of contexts, illustrate how assessment can be used to engage students in learning, provide genuinely helpful feedback efficiently, and help students learn to evaluate and improve the quality of their own work. The book concludes with suggestions for responding to the challenges of assessment and learning. An annotated list of web sites, books and articles is included as an appendix for those who want to explore this vital topic further.