Peer observation of on-line teaching in a distance learning environment

The introduction of a new VLE at the University of Lincoln was an opportunity to pilot an extension of the University’s peer observation of teaching scheme into an on-line environment, and to consider alternative methods of staff development in order to fully exploit the affordances of the VLE. This paper reports on a small research project into that pilot which found that online peer observation had the potential to be a very powerful development tool. It was largely welcomed by staff involved in the project and has led to more sophisticated exploitation of the VLE by participants, based on a mutually defined conception of teaching quality.