1. Know what it is you want to know, BEFORE you begin planning your assessment. Do you want to know if student researchers go on to graduate schools more often than students who do not participate in research? Do you want to know if your student researchers are sufficiently trained in execution of a protocol to be able to manage it on their own? Do you want to know if student researchers' self-confidence increases after their experiences? Knowing what outcome you want to assess is essential to designing and implementing the right assessment.

2. Keep it simple and short. Don't make assessment into a chore or burden for either you or your students. Collect only as much data are you can reasonably use and respond to.

3. Keep it focused. (This harkens back to knowing what you want to know!) While there are many interesting questions you might ask, focus on those most likely to improve the achievement of your own teaching, research, or program goals. Make sure that your students understand the purpose and value of your assessment. This too is an important component of assessment that we often forget.

4. Don't ask if you don't want to know, or won't be able to respond.

5. Make sure your aim is true. ALWAYS try out a new assessment technique on a colleague before trying it out on your students.

6. Close the feedback loop. Make sure to let students or other stakeholders know the outcomes of the assessment and what changes (if any) those outcomes suggest for you and them.