Feedback helps a student improve their work. When using Peer feedback, a student gives feedback on the work of a fellow student. Students will look at the work of another with a fresh look and from different angles. Giving and receiving Peer feedback also makes the student think more critically. Students often perceive the feedback of a teacher as true, while the feedback of a fellow student is looked at with a much more critical eye. This helps the student reflect on its own work and the given feedback much more than when a teacher gives the feedback.

Especially when students barely see each other physically, including Peer feedback is a good idea for your course. In this way, students interact with each other and are actively engaged in the learning material. Do you want to know how to set up Peer feedback in your course? This page tells you all about it.

The way to do this #1:
Let students give feedback based on the assessment criteria you have defined. This way students learn what to look for when giving feedback and students get feedback on the criteria they will eventually assessed on by you.

The way to do this #2:
Let students give suggestions for improvement. By giving constructive criticism, students provide the building blocks for moving forward. Students can even go a step further by mentioning the strengths of the student and how they can be used to improve the work.

The way to do this #3:
Let students talk about the peer feedback. By discussing the feedback with each other it is possible to reflect more deeply on the work and the feedback. Questions can be asked and arguments can be made as to why the feedback will or won't be used and how it can be used.

Good practice

Pitfalls

There are a few things to keep in mind while using Peer Feedback:

Peer feedback can vary dramatically per student in the degree to which the feedback is accurate, specific and helpful. This can mostly be resolved by letting multiple students give feedback to an individual student. Additionally, FeedbackFruits Peer Review forces students to respond to each criteria you set so students do not only focus on grammar and spelling
There is a chance students have never used or learned how to give good feedback. They will have to learn and you need to reserve time in your teaching for this. This can be done by giving examples. We also included "Peer review guidelines for students" on the bottom of this page.

Placemat Online Peer Feedback

The Versnellingsplan developed a placemat with an overview of the most important steps in an online peer feedback process.

Download

Essential tips & tricks for organizing peer feedback effectively

Ask students to use the assessment criteria or the learning objectives for the course or the assignment.
Organize mutual feedback, in small groups of three or four students.
Make sure that students all finish their (written) assignments before they start providing peer feedback.
Peer feedback should not be voluntary, but a clear and obligatory part of the course.

Want to know how to implement these tips and tricks? Download the guide below:

Download step-by-step guide

Yousif's experience during Corona:
Yousif is in his third year of study. This year he was confronted with Peer Feedback for the first time. The Peer Feedback was organized with the Peer Review function in Canvas Assignments, based on a spoken PowerPoint presentation. As a group, feedback had to be provided on the work of another group, which resulted in interaction within his own group and between his Peer group. However, a problem arised: the comments given via Canvas to the other Peer group disappeared after they were posted. Because of this, it was not possible to look back at what the comments were made by Yousif's group. If asked what his teacher could do better, he answers: "a better explanation from the teacher how to execute the Peer Feedback, or the use of an external tool like Feedbackfruits. Yousif has had more interaction between fellow students of his profession through Peer Feedback, which resulted in a positive experience with Peer Feedback.

Marlies' experience during Corona:
Marlies is in the first year of her master's programme. During her study career, she has provided many fellow students with peer feedback, and has received it herself on a regular basis. When studying was moved to online and at home, giving feedback became a bit different. The assignment made was sent in confidence to another student. Nevertheless, it turned out to be a threshold to be critical via the internet. If you don't speak to someone face-to-face, you can't estimate how someone will take your feedback. During a later (online) lecture, the peer feedback on the assignment, about which a pitch was also given, could be explained. This combination provided a clear picture of the feedback given and received. Although Marlies still likes feedback from the lecturer more than peer feedback, this was a useful and efficient way of dealing with giving and receiving peer feedback at this special time.

Please help us collect inspiring examples. If you have an interesting example to share, or if you come across an example worth sharing, please tell us by filling out this Contact Form. Your help is much appreciated.

The most important tool at VU Amsterdam for supporting Peer Review process outside of class is FeedbackFruits Peer Review. Watch this online presentation about the didactical use of this tool by dr. Danny Scholten of the Beta faculty to get a detailed insight in the options for Peer Feedback with FeedbackFruits.

Peer review

Licenced to VU

Intermediate

Organize individual or group peer review assignments
Auto or manually distribute reviewers
Detailed overview of student progress

Customize criteria or rubrics
Configurable grading for different parts of the assignment
Submitter and/or reviewer anonymity

Canvas Assignment

Licenced to VU

Beginner

Assign tasks and collect the student work
Easy to turn into a peer review assignment
For individual and group assignments

Use rubrics for grading
Includes plagiarism check

FeedbackFruits has more advanced features

Comparison Canvas and FeedbackFruits

Where can I get further support for online education?

Fill out this contact form (Links to an external site.) for questions or to set up an appointment with an expert;
Or contact your faculty support.
In case the Frequently Asked Questions do not cover your question, please fill out our contact form.

By letting students give and receive peerfeedback you activate students for deep learning and you can reach learning goals within:

Want to know more?

VU Mixed Classroom Model

VU Quality ambitions for online education