Peer reviewing the assistive technology application

When applying for assistive technology, it is always best practice to undertake a peer review. In some circumstances, a peer review is required.

• Purpose of peer reviews
• Conditions for peer reviewing an application
• The role of the peer reviewer
• More information

Purpose of peer reviews

The purpose of peer reviewing assistive technology (AT) applications is to enhance the quality and consistency of applications and make that the proposed solution is an appropriate match for the student’s needs and learning goals.

It is always good practice to have an AT application peer reviewed.

For an AT assessment, the assessor is understood to be the person who has taken the lead role in the completing the AT assessment and application form.

The peer reviewer evaluates the completed AT application prior to submission for moderation. They:

• check that the application is technically sound
• check that the application conveys an agreed assessment process developed by the student's learning support team
• provide suggestions for change, where required, that are constructive and encourage further clarity in the assistive technology application before the final presentation.

Conditions for peer reviewing an application

• If an application is for items over the value of $5,000 it must be peer reviewed.
• If an application is one of the first 2 applications completed by an assessor it must be peer reviewed.
• If an application is not one of the conditions above, peer reviewing the application is optional.

The role of the peer reviewer

A peer reviewer is a:

• person who is appropriately qualified and has particular knowledge of the AT devices requested in the Ministry of Education assistive technology application form
• neutral person who is not currently working with the nominated student but is familiar with the assessment process and has completed more than 2 AT applications themselves.

There will be times when the peer reviewer is in a different office, school or region to the assessor. For complex and very expensive technology applications, a request may be made for the application to be reviewed by a learning support specialist in a different education region.

In cases where there is no one suitable to peer review an application, the assessor can request the application be peer reviewed by the local assistive technology coordinator.

Example moderation form

Download an example of the kind of forms used by peer reviewers.

• Assistive technology moderation form [DOCX, 33 KB]

Last reviewed: 31 January 2024 Has this been useful? Give us your feedback