The Five Elements of a Helpful Recommendation--For a peer reviewer’s recommendations to be effective, they should refer specifically to the QM standards, provide specific evidence from the course itself, propose solutions to any problems identified, ensure that the proposed solutions are specific and measurable, and be written in a sensitive style, looking at strengths as well as weaknesses.
by Patrick Hargon
1. 1. CONSTRUCTIVE: The recommendation offers solutions to problems. It doesn't just identify problems.
2. 4. SENSITIVE: The recommendation avoids negative or harsh language.
3. 5. BALANCED: The recommendation points out the course's strengths as well as weaknesses
4. EXAMPLE: Your first discussion question in module one is very clear and likely to prompt some thoughtful reflection! QM Standard 3.1 requires that course assessments be "consistent with the [...] objectives of the course." I might recommend making the connection to the unit-level objectives more explicit. For instance, in the objectives, you state that students will "be able to identify best practices in writing instruction," but the discussion question asks, "What are some effective techniques your own teachers used to teach you how to write?" You might consider adding an additional step that ties into the objective a little more explicitly. Perhaps you could add something along the lines of, "Discuss how this strategy aligns with some of the best practices described in the textbook."
4.1. Sentence 1 tries to be balanced by pointing out a strength of the course. Sentence 2 refers to the language of the QM rubric. Sentence 3 tries to make a constructive suggestion in a balanced way. Sentence 4 provides evidence from the course. Sentence 5 tries to make a constructive recommendation. Sentence 6 tries to make the recommendation measurable.
5. The recommendation should also refer to the language of the QM rubric, and it should provide specific evidence from the course.
6. 2. SPECIFIC: The recommendation refers to a specific aspect of the course that needs improvement.
7. 3. MEASURABLE: The recommendation proposes specific changes to the course that the instructor would be able to implement and the reviewer would be able to identify.
