Critical reflection is pivotal for enhancing practice in peer observation of teaching (POT). Our analysis of educators' reflections in a developmental POT program revealed a deficiency in the level of critical reflection. In this paper, we reflect on the reasons behind this shortfall and changes made to enhance the scaffolding of critical…

This reflection on practice presents an exemplar of an integrated distributed leadership and reciprocal peer review of an academic development initiative. Distributed leadership, characterised by collaborative responsibility, is flexible and adaptive and -- when integrated with reciprocal peer review of teaching -- fosters quality learning…

This article speaks on a critical component of independent learning is to cultivate the habit of self-study, which is an effective way of improving students' grades, material understanding, class participation, and confidence. Self-study also enables students to be independent learners, which not only hones their critical and reasoning skills but…

The rapid shift towards online learning in higher education has transformed the landscape of essential academic skills, with presentation abilities emerging as a crucial competency for student success. This paper addresses the challenges and opportunities associated with teaching presentation skills in a distance education context. Traditional…

As some of the most stable and important structures in society, colleges and universities are rarely described as nimble. Yet, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020, institutions across the globe not only shifted within days to online instruction, but many academic researchers also immediately launched efforts to understand the virus,…

Librarians within a newly combined, multi-campus research and instruction department undertook a large-scale peer review of their online instruction program and materials. This collaborative assessment project sought to unite three library departments with a cohesive vision for self-guided online library instruction while establishing consistent…

Peer observation of teaching (PoT) is a recognized evaluation tool. However, faculty concerns persist regarding bias, beneficial feedback, and lack of peer observer training. While faculty desire to provide quality and equitable reviews, many higher education faculty peers have little expertise in conducting observations and evaluations. This…

This short-form article describes an informal, non-evaluative peer observation project undertaken by the authors who are Spanish teachers at two different institutions, one a university and the other a K-8 school. The authors describe the rationale for undertaking the project, their individual teaching contexts, and their joint process in this…

Virtual Exchange (VE) in higher education often involves small, online working groups who meet outside of class time. This lack of teacher presence in the meetings has its advantages (e.g. more student-centred, more autonomous environments); however, it also presents challenges for assessment. This chapter introduces an online platform called…

Having collaborated closely on a project we dubbed the 'peer review of teaching marathon,' we reflect on the role of care in opening up conversations about teaching and learning. We posit that care, through collaboration, lays a foundation for trust in higher education. Trust, in turn, invites us to be open to new ideas, to be kind and have…

The purpose of this article is to share with leadership educators a writing exercise designed to provide doctoral students enrolled in an Administrative and Policy Leadership course an opportunity to gain experience with building collective will for policy advocacy on a social justice issue. This article describes the use of a letter writing…

This experiential exercise teaches students what constitutes Appreciative Inquiry and how it is different from other feedback models, along with giving students the opportunity to apply their knowledge. Students practice giving Appreciative Inquiry to their peers' presentations through the use of an online platform that allows for written words…

Direct Entry Programs (DEPs) at Australian universities are designed to enhance students' English language and academic skills, with the primary goals of preparing and assuring students' readiness for university studies. Given that university tasks often require the integration of language skills (e.g., writing assignments using information from…

The idea of group work assessment is often seen as complicated, but necessary given the value of group work to learning. However, the traditional method involving a collective grade has been shown to be a less effective option, and raises questions about fairness for the students. Utilizing an evaluation factor provides a more inclusive assessment…

Organizational communication has concepts and processes that can be difficult to absorb. Using gamification as a pedagogical strategy, a semester-long project is developed to help students learn through application. The Bear Cave is a class-wide competition where students create an organization and seek a fictional investment of $1,000,000. In…