Sue's Sample Peer Response Assignment

Peer feedback and evaluation is a no-brainer for asynchronous online forums. I generally set students up in small work groups and provide them with guidelines for asking for and giving feedback. This example, used in the last weeks of the semester, is simple because students have been providing feedback to each other in class throughout the semester. Instructions for online response groups earlier in the semester may need to give more specific guidelines for response.


WITHIN THE FIRST 5 MINUTES OF FRIDAY'S CLASS:

• Post a portfolio essay on which you wish to get additional feedback from classmates.
• At the top of your essay, include 3-5 questions or areas that you want feedback on; make sure the questions are open ended (requiring more than a yes or no answer) and ask for specific assistance.

BY 2 P.M. SUNDAY:

1. Print out and read your group members' essays.
2. Compose feedback for each member of your group. At the beginning of your feedback, describe the one thing you most liked about the essay.
3. Complete your feedback by providing specific, useful responses to the questions asked by the author. Explain why you responded the way you did, offer specific suggestions for revising, etc.
4. Post your response by replying to the author's essay.

AFTER 2 P.M. SUNDAY:
Return to Moodle and review the feedback given by your peers. Keep revising!