Peer feedback
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.
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.
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.
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 Links to an external site.
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
Want to know more?
- Ertmer, et al. (2007). Using Peer Feedback to Enhance the Quality of Student Online Postings. Links to an external site.
- Pearce, et al. (2009). Involving students in peer review. Links to an external site.
- Peer review guidelines for students Links to an external site.