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Peer review is viewed as a valid quality assurance mechanism in higher education. Peer review of teaching is common practice at universities in Australia. However, peer review of assessment is a relatively new innovation in tertiary education. Peer review of assessment in a Triad structure utilised data, via interviews with academics and students, to develop a peer review of assessment framework. This project was modelled on a Triad based peer review of teaching process at a major university in Brisbane Australia. A 10 question framework was used initially to facilitate conversations between assessors in a range of undergraduate courses (teacher education, business, visual arts, occupational therapy, outdoor education). The benefits for all stakeholders were widespread and significant, impacting students and assessors and provided a response to sector wide, national and international criticisms of tertiary assessment by students, who are driven by successful assessment experiences and shaped by the clarity of assessment rubrics.

Peer review is viewed as a valid quality assurance mechanism in higher education. Peer review of teaching is common practice at universities in Australia. However, peer review of assessment is a relatively new innovation in tertiary education. Peer review of assessment in a Triad structure utilised data, via interviews with academics and students, to develop a peer review of assessment framework. This project was modelled on a Triad based peer review of teaching process at a major university in Brisbane Australia. A 10 question framework was used initially to facilitate conversations between assessors in a range of undergraduate courses (teacher education, business, visual arts, occupational therapy, outdoor education). The benefits for all stakeholders were widespread and significant, impacting students and assessors and provided a response to sector wide, national and international criticisms of tertiary assessment by students, who are driven by successful assessment experiences and shaped by the clarity of assessment rubrics.

Peer review of teaching has become an accepted educational procedure in Australia to quality assure the quality of teaching practices. The institutional implementation of the peer review process can be viewed as genuine desire to improve teaching quality or an imposition from above as a measure of accountability and performativity. One approach is to conduct the peer review process as a team or a triad, involving a group of three academics. This article reviews this process of peer review through the eyes of the participants. The results of the study indicate that the peer review process upon which this study is based, has the potential to not only significantly impact academics’ pedagogy but to improve teaching confidence and associated benefits in regard to evidence based teaching for promotional opportunities.

Peer review of teaching has become an accepted educational procedure in Australia to quality assure the quality of teaching practices. The institutional implementation of the peer review process can be viewed as genuine desire to improve teaching quality or an imposition from above as a measure of accountability and performativity. One approach is to conduct the peer review process as a team or a triad, involving a group of three academics. This article reviews this process of peer review through the eyes of the participants. The results of the study indicate that the peer review process upon which this study is based, has the potential to not only significantly impact academics’ pedagogy but to improve teaching confidence and associated benefits in regard to evidence based teaching for promotional opportunities.