Peer Review of Teaching

Peer review is a strategy to foster constructive exchange between colleagues on the teaching of law. In 2006, the Law School developed a peer review of teaching policy and piloted peer review of teaching in the Faculty. As a result, it was decided that peer review of teaching would be encouraged between staff on an on-going basis.

The peer review of teaching model adopted within the Law School is premised on mutual trust between participating academics. Law School staff are encouraged voluntarily to locate a partner with whom it is possible to have a reciprocal and constructive review of teaching. The partner may be selected from a group of teachers within a subject area, or beyond. Parties to the review meet, determine the focus of the review, sit in on one of each others’ classes, and then give oral or written feedback to each other. This feedback is confidential to the reviewer and the reviewed.

Staff who have participated in the peer review process have found the feedback they received to be extremely useful. They have also found the experience of attending other teachers’ classes to be stimulating and informative.