David Nichol

Assistant Professor

Department: Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing

David Nichol is an Assistant Professor of Education at Northumbria University and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. His research focuses on academic identity formation and the role of collaborative, co-constructivist pedagogies in enhancing professional learning. David is particularly interested in designing and evaluating innovative, practice-informed approaches that build educator confidence and preparedness across both school and higher education settings.

His work explores the intersection of pedagogy and professional practice, with a strong emphasis on the structural and institutional conditions that shape the experiences of early career academics. He is committed to advancing inclusive and sustainable models of academic development, and his work contributes to rethinking how professional learning is supported across educational contexts.

In recognition of his contributions to teaching and academic development, David received a Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) in August 2024. He has also led academic development programmes within the Post Compulsory Education and Training (PCET) sector, further demonstrating his commitment to supporting educators across a range of learning environments.

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Key Publications

Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
Back to basics: Pre-service teachers' experiences of ‘SimulatEd’, a suite of low-technology simulated-scenarios to promote preparedness for professional practice, Nichol, D., Mulholland, K., Counihan, C., Meller, S., Anderson, A., Luke, C., Gray, W. 3 Jun 2025, In: Teaching and Teacher Education
Stepping Stones: Adopting a fading programme design to promote teachers’ use of metacognitive strategies for mathematical problem-solving, Mulholland, K., Gray, W., Counihan, C., Nichol, D. 9 Jul 2025, In: Education Sciences
The use of simulation-based learning approaches in initial teacher education and teachers’ professional development – exploring the potential for learning and practice., Davies, J., Meller, S., Luke, C., Anderson, A., Nichol, D., Mulholland, K., Gray, W., Counihan, C. 26 Jun 2025, BERA Global Perspectives in Teacher Education
Key Concepts and Concerns of Teaching Sensitive Topics and Subjects, McGovern, W., McGovern, R., Nichol, D. 5 Feb 2024, Developing and Implementing Teaching in Sensitive Subject and Topic Areas, Leeds, Emerald Publishing
Using Simulation as an innovative pedagogy to reduce Impostor Phenomenon amongst early career academics, Cole, S., Cole, M., Counihan, C., Gibson, M., Mulholland, K., Nichol, D. 2 Dec 2024, International Federation of National Teaching Fellows (IFNTF) Conference and Symposium
Virtual reality check: A realist evaluation protocol for exploring the use of Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) to support pre-service teachers’ understanding of approaches to behaviour management, Woodley, H., Mulholland, K., Nichol, D., Counihan, C., Luke, C., Gray, W., Meller, S., Herridge, D., Anderson, A., Ross, J. 1 Feb 2024, In: Journal of Applied Learning and Teaching
“How was it for you?” The impacts of student-staff partnerships in developing online teaching and learning, Nichol, D., Mulholland, K., Anderson, A., Taylor, S., Davies, J. 21 Oct 2023, In: Journal of Further and Higher Education
‘It feels like you’re going back to the beginning…’: addressing imposter feelings in early career academics through the creation of communities of practice, Mulholland, K., Nichol, D., Gillespie, A. 2 Jan 2023, In: Journal of Further and Higher Education
Staff perceptions on implementing interprofessional education for undergraduate students in health, social work and education, Harper, L., Luke, C., Mulholland, K., Callum, J., Nichol, D., Herridge, D., Gray, W., Anderson, A., McGill, F., Davies, J. 28 Nov 2023, In: Journal of Applied Learning and Teaching
"The Bits of the Job Beyond Teaching": Can simulation-based learning in Initial Teacher Education better prepare students for real-life as a teacher?  , Mulholland, K., Nichol, D., Herridge, D., Anderson, A., Luke, C., Gray, W., Meller, S., Counihan, C. 13 Sep 2023