- 200 years
- Study
- International
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- Research
- About us
https://webcdn.mmu.ac.uk/profiles/img/profile-images/dnicholson.jpg
Aim for the sky. Be yourself. Don't let anybody tell you 'no'.
Academic Qualifications
BSc (Hons) Physical Geography and Geology (University of Lancaster)
M.LD Master of Landscape Design (Manchester University)
MA Academic Practice (Manchester Met)
PhD Engineering Geomorphology (University of Leeds)
Professional Qualifications
ILM Level 5 Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring for Managers
Institute of Quarrying Professional Qualification
Foundation Certificate in Deaf Studies (CACDP)
2000-2001 Earth and Environment Faculty, University of Leeds: Senior Project Officer (C and IT in the Curriculum Project)
1995-2000 School of Earth Sciences, University of Leeds: Various roles including Research Assistant (Teaching), Senior Project Assistant, Temporary Lecturer, Demonstrating and Tutorial Assistant
1997 School of Biological and Earth Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University: Lecturer (short-term contract)
1995-1997 Freelance Geoscience Consultant
1992-1995 Wardell Armstrong: Senior Environmental Scientist (Landscape)
1991-1992 Planning and Landscape Division, St Helens MBC: Senior Landscape Architect
1990-1991 Planning Department, Cheshire County Council: Planning Officer (Minerals)
1988-1990 Cobham Resource Consultants: Environmental Consultant
1987 Donaldson Edwards Partnership: Landscape Assistant
Principal School Roles
Department Education Lead
Principal Faculty / University Roles
Faculty Equality and Diversity Champion
Member of Faculty Narrowing the Award Gap Task group, Inclusive Learning Communities Project Board, Race Equality Charter Self Assessment Team, Faculty Education Change Workstream
Level Two BSL (British Sign Language)
I teach primarily on modules that underpin BSc (Hons) Geography and BSc (Hons) Physical Geography
Current teaching includes:
L4: Professional Geographer
L4: Researching Physical Geography
L5: Catchment Hydrology and Geomorphology
L5: Fieldwork and Research Design (Physical Geography)
L6: Geomorphic Hazards
L6: Dissertation (Education for Sustainable Development, Applid and Pure Geomorphology, Hazards)
Advance HE Registered External Examiner
External Examiner at Staffordshire University (2017-22) BSc (Hons) Physical Geography, Geography, and Geography with Mountain Leadership
External Panel Member for programme review at Staffordshire University 2016
Educational research:
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: Designing and delivering inclusive curricula in Higher Education, including flexible assessment for inclusion, enhancing accessibility through technology, embedding reasonable adjustments in the curriculum, student engagement and belonging, attentiveness and student success, embedding coaching techniques in personal tutoring, inclusive student partnership, diversity awareness, and inclusive learning for d/Deaf and hard of hearing students.
Active, Innovative Teaching and Assessment: Enquiry-based learning and its synergies with Education for Sustainable Development, creative honours projects in Geography teaching, assessment and peer assessment for learning, technology-enhanced learning (especially the use of online portfolios for employability enhancement), enquiry-based educvation for sustainable development.
Geomorphology research:
Role of rock weathering in slope instability, rockslope deterioration assessment, rock microweathering rates and processes in cold environments, rock weathering under late-lying snowpatches, ploughing boulder processes, Holocene landform evolution.
Publications listed at: https://1drv.ms/w/s!AlDPwVYtqXpDgk7QY9jvOv87Gunw?e=AXXe7J
I am currently collaborating with Valeria Vargas and Gail Skelly to explore the synergies between Education for Sustainable Development and Enquiry-Based Learning. As part of this we are exploring the impact on learning efficacy among first year learners, and also the value of enquiry-based education for sustainable development as a catalyst for organisayional change.
Previously I collaborated with Professor Sally Randles, Eleanor Hannan, Valeria Vargas and others to investigate sustainability challenges from pedagogy to practice.
I also worked with Penny Sweasey, Kath Botham and others to investigate mechanisms for embedding inclusion into HE curricula.
N. Moore-Cherry, R. Healey, DT. Nicholson, W. Andrews (2015). Inclusive partnership: enhancing student engagement in geography. Journal of Geography in Higher Education. 40(1), pp.84-103.
M. Gawne, DT. Nicholson (2012). Inclusive curriculum design and delivery: A university-wide task and finish group. Learning and Teaching in Action. 9(1), pp.79-81.
DT. Nicholson, R. Lewin, N. Shabbir, K. Botham (2012). Putting inclusion into practice: Designing out Personal Learning Plans for students with mild to moderate dyslexia. Learning and Teaching in Action. 9(1), pp.26-42.
M. Patel, DT. Nicholson (2012). The MMU Single Equality Scheme (SES). Learning and Teaching in Action. 9(1), pp.6-14.
DT. Nicholson (2012). Editorial: Themed issue 'Equality and Diversity in Learning and Teaching'. Learning and Teaching in Action. 9(1), pp.1-3.
DT. Nicholson (2011). Embedding Research in a Field-based Module through Peer Review and Assessment for Learning. Journal of Geography in Higher Education. 35(4), pp.529-549.
J. Hill, P. Kneale, D. Nicholson, S. Waddington, W. Ray (2011). Re-framing the Geography Dissertation: A Consideration of Alternative, Innovative and Creative Approaches. Journal of Geography in Higher Education. 35(3), pp.331-349.
DT. Nicholson, ME. Harrison, WB. Whalley (2010). Assessment criteria and standards of the Geography Dissertation in the UK. Planet. 23(1), pp.18-24.
DT. Nicholson, V. Ruiz Vargas, G. Skelly Enquiry-based skills education for sustainable development in a UK Geography module as a catalyst for organisational change. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education.
DT. Nicholson (2010). Enhancing teaching-research links through active field-based learning and peer review. Learning and Teaching in Action. 8(2),
DT. Nicholson (2009). Holocene microweathering rates and processes on ice-eroded bedrock, Røldal area, Hardangervidda, southern Norway. Geological Society Special Publications. 320, pp.29-49.
DT. Nicholson (2008). Rock control on microweathering of bedrock surfaces in a periglacial environment. Geomorphology. 101(4), pp.655-665.
DT. Nicholson (2008). Inclusive learning and teaching practice: Feedback from d/Deaf and hard of hearing students. Learning and Teaching in Action. 7(2), pp.34-43.
DT. Nicholson, AM. Langan (2007). Feedback and student retention. Learning and Teaching in Action. 6(3), pp.44-50.
DT. Nicholson (2007). Ensuring success for d/Deaf and hard of hearing students at MMU. Learning and Teaching in Action. 6(3), pp.29-37.
DT. Nicholson (2005). The student experience. Learning and Teaching in Action. 4(1), pp.50-58.
DT. Nicholson (2004). Hazard assessment for progressive, weathering-related breakdown of excavated rockslopes. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology. 37(4), pp.327-346.
DT. Nicholson (2004). Designing flexible learning materials: Report on the April 29 th 2004 workshop led by Professor Phil Race. Learning and Teaching in Action. 3(2), pp.46-48.
DT. Nicholson (2003). Breakdown mechanisms and morphology for man-made rockslopes in North West England. North West Geography. 3(1), pp.12-26.
D. Nicholson (2002). Optimal use of MS PowerPoint for teaching in the GEES disciplines. Planet. pp.7-9.
DT. Nicholson (2002). Lecture delivery using MS PowerPoint: Staff and student perspectives at MMU. Learning and Teaching in Action. 1(2), pp.42-48.
DT. Nicholson (2002). Identification of deterioration hazard potential for quarried rock slopes. Quarry Management. 29(1), pp.43-49.
DT. Nicholson (2001). Pore properties as indicators of breakdown mechanisms in experimentally weathered limestones. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. 26(8), pp.819-838.
DT. Nicholson, FH. Nicholson (2000). Physical deterioration of sedimentary rocks subjected to experimental freeze-thaw weathering. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. 25(12), pp.1295-1307.
DT. Nicholson (1995). The visual impact of quarrying. Quarry Management. 22(7), pp.39-42.
DT. Nicholson (1991). Profile: minerals and waste planning in Cheshire. Mineral Planning. 49, pp.30-32.
JF. Wager, DT. Nicholson (1990). A regional forest park for the North West. Town and Country Planning. 59(4), pp.107-110.
J. Hill, PJ. Kneale, DT. Nicholson, S. Waddington, W. Ray (2016). Re-framing the Geography dissertation: A consideration of alternative, innovative and creative approaches. M. Haigh, D. Cotton, T. Hall. In: Pedagogic Research in Geography Higher Education. London: Routledge,
DT. Nicholson (2007). Evaluación del riesgo de meteorización progresiva y colapso de los taludes rocosos. In: Ingeniería del Terreno. Madrid: pp.195-244.
DT. Nicholson (2004). Identification, assessment and mitigation of visual impacts due to quarrying. MS. Watkins, MR. Smith. In: Environmental Management. Nottingham: Institute of Quarrying, pp.129-152.
DT. Nicholson, FH. Nicholson (2005). Post-glacial weathering form and process in a periglacial environment, Hardanger Plateau, southern Norway. In: European Science Federation Sediflux Network, Second Meeting, Clermont-Ferrand 20-22 January 2005. Clermont-Ferrand, 20/1/2005. pp.33-34.
DT. Nicholson (2003). Assessment of excavated rockslope hazard due to progressive, weathering-related deterioration. In: Geophysical Research Abstracts.
DT. Nicholson, AC. Lumsden, SR. Hencher (2000). Excavation-induced deterioration of rockslopes. In: Proceedings of the 8th International Symposium on Landslides. Cardiff, 26/6/2000. pp.1105-1110.
DT. Nicholson, S. Hencher (1997). Assessing the potential for deterioration of engineered rockslopes. In: ENGINEERING GEOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, VOLS 1-3. ATHENS, GREECE, 23/6/1997. pp.911-917.
DT. Nicholson (2003). Encyclopedia of Geomorphology. 1 and 2,
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education Curicula.
Student Engagement, Personal Tutoring, and Attentiveness.
Innovation and Good Practice in HE Geography and STEM Teaching and Technology-enhanced learning
National Teaching Fellow 2020 (Advance HE)
Nomination* for Teaching Excellence Award, MMU Staff Awards 2021 (*with other members of the Faculty Department Education Leads Team)
Nomination for Best Teacher Award (Manchester Metropolitan Student Union 'Teaching Awards' 2013)
Marston Prize 2001: Institute of Quarrying (best technical presentation to a branch)
Ruston Bucyrus Award 1995: Quarry Management (best technical publication)
Ransomes and Rapier First Prize (1993): Institute of Quarrying (best Quarry Engineering paper in Professional Exam)
Gillespie-Beaumont Landscape Student Prize 1988: University of Manchester
Higher Education Academy, UK (https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/) including STEM
International Assessment in Higher Education Conference (https://aheconference.com/)
RIGEO (Review of International Geography Education Online) (http://rigeo.org/)
Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia (http://www.rustaveli.org.ge/en/)
National Science Foundation (https://www.nsf.gov/)
Student Engagement in HE Journal (Reviewing Team)
Member of the Association of National Teaching Fellows (2020)
Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (PFHEA) (2017)
Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute (CMLI) (1991)
Professional Member of the Institute of Quarrying (MIQ) (1993)
Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS) (2005)
Fellow of the Geological Society (FGS) (1986)
Member of British Society for Geomorphology (1986)
Member of Liverpool Geological Society (1983)