Peer Evaluation

Introduction:

Welcome to the Peer Evaluation mini-course! This mini-course is designed to familiarize learners with the pedagogical benefits of peer evaluation, introduce strategies to utilize peer evaluation in the classroom to improve academic performance, and illuminate a shift instructional pedagogy toward student-centered classrooms. In each unit learners will complete an informational lesson and perform a learning exercise before moving on. At the end of the course learners will synthesize their learning from the mini-course to create and implement a peer evaluation lesson plan. It is the intent of this mini-course to enable educators to effectively use peer evaluation as a way to empower students by taking the driver’s seat in their learning and becoming actively responsible for their academic success in the 21st century! Good luck!

Topics:

Why use peer evaluation in the classroom?

What is a student-centered classroom and how is it connected to peer evaluation?

What does peer evaluation look like?

How do you incorporate peer evaluation into the classroom?

Tips for Success:

The title and topic of this mini-course is peer evaluation and I will refer in these units to all forms of evaluation and assessment done amongst peers as peer evaluation. However for the intent of this course peer-evaluation and peer-assessment can be used interchangeably as you will see both in external links and resources.

Feel free to keep scrap paper or a notebook handy as well as something to write with. It always helpful to write down important ideas or questions you have as you go along to refer back to.

Be sure to read and understand the objectives for each unit. These are your learning goals so keep them in mind while you are reviewing the lesson materials and exercises. Think of each lesson objective as a piece of the mini-course puzzle. A puzzle is not complete if one piece is missing!

Units:

Unit 1: The Benefits of Peer Evaluation

Objective: Learners will identify benefits of peer evaluation in the classroom by creating a list of at least 3 pedagogical benefits.

In this unit learners will:

Complete 3 brief lessons and review various external sources explaining the benefits and motivation for incorporating peer evaluation in the classroom.
Demonstrate their understanding of the benefits of peer evaluation by creating a list of at least 3 pedagogical benefits.
Answer 4 questions designed to reflect on what they have just learned, past experience with peer evaluation and any questions they might have.

Unit 2: Creating a Student-Centered Classroom

Objective: Learners will evaluate a student-centered classroom and it’s connection to peer evaluation by answering 5 question multiple choice questions to identify key characteristics.

In this unit learners will:

Complete a lesson and review three external sources describing the history, characteristics and motivation for student-centered learning.
Watch two brief videos explaining motivation and rationale for using student-centered classrooms to create a paradigm shift toward 21st century learning.
Demonstrate their learning of student-centered classrooms and their connection to peer evaluation by answering 5 multiple choice questions.

Unit 3: What Does Peer Evaluation Look Like?

Objective: Learners will discriminate key concepts of peer evaluation by playing a matching game to classify groups of opportunities for peer evaluation and peer evaluation criteria.

In this unit learners will:

Complete a lesson and review two strategy guides for peer evaluation.
Watch a video demonstrating common mistakes made in peer review.
Play a matching game to identify and classify key characteristics in peer evaluation.

Unit 4: Putting it All Together

Objectives: 1) Synthesize knowledge gained in mini-course to generate and implement a lesson plan using peer evaluation.

2) Complete a self-assessment of lesson plan development and implementation by answering 4 reflection questions.

In this unit learners will:

Complete a lesson and be shown three example lesson plans using peer evaluation.
Develop and implement a lesson plan using peer evaluation in their classroom.
Complete a self-assessment by uploading their lesson plan and answering 4 reflection questions.

Links:

Please click here to view the current class page for ETAP 623 Systematic Design of Instruction

Please click here to view MaryBeth Cardone's portfolio page

Please click here to learn more about the author

References and Resources

Icojam. (Designer). Active, check, checkmark, correct, done, green Retrieved November 16, 2014, from: https://www.iconfinder.com/icons/12608/active_check_checkmark_correct_done_green_right_tick_true_yes_icon#size=48.

James, M. (Designer). Arrow, bullet icon. Retrieved 16 November 2014, from: https://www.iconfinder.com/icons/5080/arrow_bullet_icon.

Lundstrom, K., & Baker, K. (2009). To give is better than to receive: The benefits of peer review to the reviewer's own writing. Journal of Second Language Writing, 18, 30-43.

[Untitled jigsaw icon]. Customicondesign. Retrieved 15 November 2014, from: http://www.fancyicons.com/free-icon/103/pretty-office-5-icon-set/free-addons-icon-png/.

[Untitled notebook icon]. Dryicons. Retrieved 15 November 2014, from: http://www.easyicon.net/language.en/535648-notebook_edit_icon.html

[Untitled puzzle image]. Retrieved 30 October 2014, from: http://teachingresources2012.weebly.com/peer-evaluation-form.html.

[Untitled reminder icon]. Retrieved 15 November 2014, from: http://pixgood.com/voting-finger-png.html.