Embracing peer review of teaching: promoting the ‘why’ within third space education.

This case study explores how a Learning Development team has moved from a peer-observation to a peer-review process over the last five years, examining the rationale, development, and impact of the change in approach. The move to a peer-review process has emphasised a focus on holistic activity, th...

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Main Authors: Avril Buchanan, Kate Haley, Chad McDonald
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Association for Learning Development in Higher Education (ALDinHE) 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journal.aldinhe.ac.uk/index.php/jldhe/article/view/1214
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author Avril Buchanan
Kate Haley
Chad McDonald
author_facet Avril Buchanan
Kate Haley
Chad McDonald
author_sort Avril Buchanan
collection DOAJ
description This case study explores how a Learning Development team has moved from a peer-observation to a peer-review process over the last five years, examining the rationale, development, and impact of the change in approach. The move to a peer-review process has emphasised a focus on holistic activity, through the connection of individual and group reflection on practice. We argue that the implementation of a peer-review process offers a way to recognise and ‘frame’ the complexity of career development for third-space educators (Veles and Carter, 2016). This is achieved by providing space in the process for individuals to develop their expertise, participate in peer discussions, share findings, and contribute to the shape of the team’s strategy. Importantly, the adopted peer-review process promotes ‘collegial conversations’ (Quinlan and Åkerlind, 2000, p.101) that are built on trust (O’Keeffe et al., 2021), rather than snap judgements about teaching. Consequently, we suggest that our peer-review process is an enabler for us as third-space educators to articulate the impact of our practice through both theoretical and practical lenses, helping us to influence positive change within contemporary higher education.
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publisher Association for Learning Development in Higher Education (ALDinHE)
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spelling doaj-art-c8410a310eb74ee08f602bc0b317da402025-01-31T07:56:44ZengAssociation for Learning Development in Higher Education (ALDinHE)Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education1759-667X2025-01-013310.47408/jldhe.vi33.1214Embracing peer review of teaching: promoting the ‘why’ within third space education.Avril Buchanan0https://orcid.org/0009-0007-0261-5825Kate Haley1Chad McDonald2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4779-2220Manchester Metropolitan UniversityManchester Metropolitan UniversityManchester Metropolitan University This case study explores how a Learning Development team has moved from a peer-observation to a peer-review process over the last five years, examining the rationale, development, and impact of the change in approach. The move to a peer-review process has emphasised a focus on holistic activity, through the connection of individual and group reflection on practice. We argue that the implementation of a peer-review process offers a way to recognise and ‘frame’ the complexity of career development for third-space educators (Veles and Carter, 2016). This is achieved by providing space in the process for individuals to develop their expertise, participate in peer discussions, share findings, and contribute to the shape of the team’s strategy. Importantly, the adopted peer-review process promotes ‘collegial conversations’ (Quinlan and Åkerlind, 2000, p.101) that are built on trust (O’Keeffe et al., 2021), rather than snap judgements about teaching. Consequently, we suggest that our peer-review process is an enabler for us as third-space educators to articulate the impact of our practice through both theoretical and practical lenses, helping us to influence positive change within contemporary higher education. https://journal.aldinhe.ac.uk/index.php/jldhe/article/view/1214peer observationpeer reviewprofessional developmentthird space educatorlearning development
spellingShingle Avril Buchanan
Kate Haley
Chad McDonald
Embracing peer review of teaching: promoting the ‘why’ within third space education.
Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education
peer observation
peer review
professional development
third space educator
learning development
title Embracing peer review of teaching: promoting the ‘why’ within third space education.
title_full Embracing peer review of teaching: promoting the ‘why’ within third space education.
title_fullStr Embracing peer review of teaching: promoting the ‘why’ within third space education.
title_full_unstemmed Embracing peer review of teaching: promoting the ‘why’ within third space education.
title_short Embracing peer review of teaching: promoting the ‘why’ within third space education.
title_sort embracing peer review of teaching promoting the why within third space education
topic peer observation
peer review
professional development
third space educator
learning development
url https://journal.aldinhe.ac.uk/index.php/jldhe/article/view/1214
work_keys_str_mv AT avrilbuchanan embracingpeerreviewofteachingpromotingthewhywithinthirdspaceeducation
AT katehaley embracingpeerreviewofteachingpromotingthewhywithinthirdspaceeducation
AT chadmcdonald embracingpeerreviewofteachingpromotingthewhywithinthirdspaceeducation