Beyond traditional peer-to-peer teaching evaluation: Using pedagogical theory in conceptualizing a collaborative teaching development program

This paper discusses how pedagogical theory can be used in conceptualizing a collaborative teaching development program in higher education. A theoretically driven teaching development program can be of benefit to both the reviewer and the reviewee by providing (a) a foundation for the reviewee to examine their educational content being reviewed; and (b) a systematic framework for the reviewee for evaluating the content under review. Appropriately used pedagogical theory enables the constructive alignment of teaching, learning, and assessment. This collaborative, self-reflective, and bi-directional teaching development process facilitates a sense of self-determination, which facilitates motivation and achievement of goals. Practitioner Notes 1. Peer-evaluation should be a collaborative process founded in pedagogical theory and research. 2. If the goal of peer-evaluation is to systematically facilitate faculty/academic staff teaching expertise, a collaborative process is recommended. 3. A well implemented, theoretically grounded collaborative process can also facilitate faculty and academic staff teaching-related self-determination, which can help increase autonomous (intrinsic and identified) motivation. © 2021, University of Wollongong. All rights reserved.