Peer dialogue

Peer dialogue enables you to engage in a constructive discussion about enhancing student learning and/ or the wider student experience. It can focus on developing a range of dimensions of your practice, such as classroom teaching, feedback on assessment or development of resources.

It is not a judgmental process, but an opportunity for creative thinking about developing your educational practice. It demonstrates a commitment to ongoing, collegial enhancement of academic practice.

The full Peer Dialogue process

How does it work?

• The WIHEA Connect Peer-Dialogue matching service pairs you up with like-minded colleagues across the University
• Open to all staff who teach and/or support students’ learning (staff on probation should discuss involvement with their APP TE contact).
• A register of participants, either paired observation of practice (option A) or small group discussions (option B). Also a register of colleagues with a specific area of expertise (‘expert contacts’) happy to share their experiences.
• Operates across departments and could be used instead of a departmental peer dialogue scheme.

How to take part

1. Sign up to find a peer dialogue partner

You can choose from two options to undertake in each academic year. We recommend using both options over time:

• Option A - Pair-based dialogue
• Option B - Small group collaborative enhancement of a specific area of practice

2. Sign up to be a WIHEA Peer Advance Contact

If you have experience or interest in a particular area of academic practice which you would be willing to share with others as a WIHEA Peer Advance Contact please complete the sign-up form

Post Peer Dialogue?

To gain the most from your Peer Dialogue activity, consider:

• Presenting and discussing your account of Peer Dialogue at your appraisal
• Presenting your enhancement work to your departmental teaching committee
• Sharing with your departmental teaching committee any generic issues arising, for example suggestions for changes to the use of space or of technology
• Presenting the outcomes of the Peer Dialogue to Student Staff Liaison Committees
• Developing a case study for WIHEA.
• Leading an Academic Development Centre (ADC) workshop to share your developments with colleagues beyond your Faculty.
• Join the WIHEA Peer Advance Register

Reflections

Develop your knowledge, skills and understanding with these options:

• The Academic Development Programme: workshops to support teaching and learning.
• The APP EXP Pathway to professional recognition for work in teaching and learning support. There are four different categories of Fellowship for different career stages and roles. If you are already a Fellow of the HEA you could become a mentor or assessor.
• WIHEA opportunities, some of which are suitable for staff who are not Fellows.
• Journals and periodicals associated with teaching and learning in HE
• The annual Warwick Education Conference includes a wide range of topics and speakers on teaching and learning support.

Updates and events

Search our new Peer Advanced Contact Register for contacts to help you with specific areas of your teaching, learning and pedagogy