Background/purpose: This study presents a systematic review of teaching observation instruments in the current literature based on PRISMA standards. Materials/methods: Three researchers performed searches on two databases, SCOPUS and Web of Science, focusing on two criteria: A) peer observation of teaching and B) higher education, with search…

Research on peer review to date has focused on its role as a formal compliance mechanism, a process for enhancing and developing teaching practice, and as a considerable source of anxiety for educators. In this paper, we draw on scholarly reflections from our experience of undertaking a reciprocal, formative peer review in an Australian higher…

Rubrics have been suggested as a means to foster students' evaluative judgement, the capacity to appraise their own work and that of others; however, empirical evidence of rubrics' effectiveness is still emerging. This paper contributes findings from a randomised controlled experiment on the effect of rubrics on evaluative judgement. Participants…

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…

In the context of the "Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021" (HES Framework), 'scholarship' refers to those activities concerned with gaining new or improved understanding, or appreciation and insights into a field of knowledge, or engaging with and keeping up to date with advances in the field. The Australian…

Teachers are faced with an increasingly complex environment in which they need significant support to foster the classroom climates their students benefit from. Developing a critical understanding of the school and broader social context can foster awareness of the 'bigger picture' that influences the school community individually and…

Over the past decades, peer review of teaching has become commonplace at many universities around the world. Though research on the topic is expanding, much of the literature is composed of qualitative studies that offer relevant empirical findings but often have limited foundations in theory. Using a framework synthesis approach, we synthesize…

There is a growing interest in using comparative judgement as a peer assessment tool involving students choosing the 'better' of two pieces of work. However, it has not been shown whether peer assessment through comparative judgement is effective for students' learning. To gain a better understanding of the comparative judgement process, we…

Assessment is a key driver for engagement and a widely criticised aspect of the tertiary student experience. In regard to assessment, in particular, feedback, rubrics and peer review have been major focuses for researchers in recent years. This research utilised an innovative peer review process in a triad structure to evaluate and improve…

Over recent decades, peer review of teaching has become an important mechanism for improving the quality of teaching in higher education. While there is considerable international research on peer review of teaching outcomes, these are not widely reported within Australian universities. This paper reports on a systematic review of published…

Feedback is a cultural tool through which English teachers can facilitate secondary students' evaluative expertise in their writing development. While there is increased concern to use feedback to enhance learning at all educational levels, there is currently little empirical knowledge of how secondary teachers of English design feedback for…

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,…

Our work concerned the socio-cultural practices of tutors from diverse higher education institutes. The tutors were practising lecturers who had contributed to peer assessment studies published in refereed academic journals. Analysis of interview data considered the relational interdependency of tutors' and students' activity in the socially and…

This article uses a meta-metrics approach to research the research in Religion and Religious Studies (Field of Research (FoR) Code 2204) in Australia. Comparing and contrasting various results from the data provided by the Australian Research Council (ARC) on its Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) process, as well as global rankings data,…

The analysis of exemplars of different quality is a potentially powerful tool in enabling students to understand assessment expectations and appreciate academic standards. Through a systematic review methodology, this paper synthesises exemplar-based research designs, exemplar implementation and the educational effects of exemplars. The review of…