This section provides you with some suggestions to assist you develop a systematic program of working together to learn more about how your students experience learning in your subject. Through reflection on what you students tell you about their experience and on your peers observations and insights you can then work together to improve that experience.
To begin, identify an issue, some area of your teaching that is problematic for you. We are using the issue of assessment as an example for illustrative purposes throughout this section. You may choose a learning outcome that puzzles you. Perhaps the student evaluation feedback revealed something you would like to investigate further. The experience will be greatly enhanced if you are both examining the same issue, if it is also of interest to your colleagues then your endeavors will be supported and your recomendations will be positively discussed.
What ever the issue is that you have chosen you will need to consider some or all of the following as preparation for working with your colleague. These questions are for you both to consider in relation to your students' learning. You may wish to add others. Use this list a means to approaching the task systematically.
Not related directly to assessment but an important aspect of peer review
Following are some activities to help you explore an issue, learn from each other's experiences and engage in collaborative reflection.
Interviewing each others students
Many resources have been referred to in developing these activities including our own experiences in working with our colleagues. Foremost amongst the resources consulted have been those developed as part of the Teaching Initiative Project, a project of the American Association of Higher Education. You will find more comments related to Peer Review on the AAHE Website.