Peer Reviewing E-Learning: Opportunities, Challenges, and Solutions

Abstract

Peer review is the foundation of academic publication and a necessary step in the scrutiny of any scholarly work. Simply defined, peer review is the attentive, unbiased assessment of any scholarly work that is submitted for formal scrutiny. Although medical school faculty increasingly use technology in clinical teaching, e-learning materials are often not subjected to a rigorous peer review process. The authors contrast peer review of e-learning materials with that of print materials, describe peer review issues regarding e-learning materials, propose approaches to address the challenges of peer review of e-learning materials, and outline directions for refinement of the e-learning peer review process. At its core, the peer review of e-learning materials should not differ substantially from that of traditional manuscripts. However, e-learning introduces new demands that impel reviewers to consider aspects that are unique to educational technology, including pedagogy, format, usability, navigation, interactivity, delivery, ease of updating, distribution, and access. Four approaches are offered to ease the burden and improve the quality of e-learning peer review: develop peer review training, embrace multidisciplinary peer review, develop guidelines, and provide incentives and compensation. The authors conclude with suggestions about peer review research.

Europe‐Wide Survey of Teaching in Geriatric Medicine

“…29 Given the shortage of professionals trained to care for older people, overcrowded medical curricula, the transfer of teaching venues to community settings, and the switch to competency-based educational models, it is time to increase the use of e-learning in Europe, 30 but users need to be aware that e-learning materials have often not been subjected to a rigorous peer review process. 31 Telemedicine mentoring of students could be another innovative way to increase the availability of educational geriatric programs. 32 This present survey has four limitations.…”

Social WorkersCane-Learn: Evaluation of a Pilot Post-Qualifying e-Learning Course in Research Methods and Critical Appraisal Skills for Social Workers

“…Each of these weeks featured a lecture and learning module on a different research method and statistical method. These course materials were peer-reviewed by another social work academic prior to 'going live', a process just as important in e-learning as in other areas of academic endeavour (Ruiz et al, 2007). Minor amendments were made as a result of this process.…”

Web-based Training an deutschen Universitäts-Augenkliniken – Lehre 2.0?

“…In contrast to print media where peer review is common, there is currently no established quality control and verification of information. Whether validation and quality control of information on the internet is feasible is questionable but efforts are being made to verify data on offer on a voluntary basis through authorized bodies specifically set up for this purpose to underline the credibility of information [1], [2], [26]. The data of offer evaluated by this study only found 2 cases where images contained information about the author, and only one provided information regarding a second opinion by a physician.…”