Auto-Evaluate
About how to auto-evaluate
1 Peer Evaluation
Peer evaluation is an effective collaborative learning strategy that asks students to reflect on contributions made by colleagues in group work.
1.1 Peer evaluation
Related to self-assessment, peer evaluation encourages students to critically examine the work of peers, and reflect on the meaning of quality work in general, especially when consulting a detailed rubric or checklist as a guide.
1.2 Purpose
Students themselves provide feedback to one another, while the instructor focuses on more targeted guidance toward a learning outcome. The key for successful peer feedback is a constructive, honest environment in which students feel safe to share honest, yet helpful criticism. Through peer evaluation, students ultimately learn to better self-assess themselves, a skill which pay dividends throughout their academic and professional career. As additional benefits of peer evaluation, students learn to:
- apply course concepts and skills to solving problems
- collaborate with others towards a common goal
- examine diverse perspectives and ideas
- assume greater responsibility in the learning process
- apply (and possibly create) objective criteria to judge the quality of a task or performance
Peer evaluations also resolve the “free rider” problem with group work, that is, the tendency of students to rely on team members to take the initiative in completing group assignments or tasks.
By adding an element of accountability and critical review, students will more likely exert effort to ensure a positive review from their peers (and create a good impression).
1.3 Tips to Implement Effectively
- To implement an effective peer evaluation, students must fully understand expectations in advance. Set clear goals and expectations for the process.
- A detailed rubric or checklist is critical to ensure evaluations are respectful, constructive and helpful.
- To avoid emotional complications and hurt feelings, provide examples of effective evaluations/reviews. Be sure to emphasize as required characteristics that evaluations be respectful, constructive and helpful.
- To encourage self-direction and responsibility, allow students to create their own rubrics or checklists (though you should still approve prior to use as an actual assessment tool).
- Allow students to practice peer evaluations, preferably in the form of a self-assessment or a peer review for a low-stakes activity (e.g. class or online discussion).