Peer Assessment What are the benefits of it? What are the pit falls of it? How often is peer assessment used effectively in your class?

How much peer assessment goes on in class? So, how much of the feedback students get do you think comes from their peers? I’m not talking about feedback on their choice of trainers or on their ability to wear a hoodie with dash and élan, I’m talking about classroom feedback on their learning. So, go on; how much? Most teachers when asked to guess hazard something along the lines of 10-20%. In fact, according to research undertaken by Graham Nuthall*, the actual figure is more like 80%. And of that, 80% is, apparently, wrong. So, how much of the feedback students get do you think comes from their peers? I’m not talking about feedback on their choice of trainers or on their ability to wear a hoodie with dash and élan, I’m talking about classroom feedback on their learning. So, go on; how much? Most teachers when asked to guess hazard something along the lines of 10-20%. In fact, according to research undertaken by Graham Nuthall*, the actual figure is more like 80%. And of that, 80% is, apparently, wrong. How much peer assessment goes on in class? Most teachers when asked to guess hazard something along the lines of 10- 20%. In fact, according to research undertaken by Graham Nuthall, the actual figure is more like 80%. And of that, 80% is, apparently, wrong. Leaves us with a big problem….

Benefits of Peer assessment

Kind, helpful and specific Berger outlines a number of principles essential for getting the critique process right. Feedback should be kind, helpful and specific. It should be hard on content but soft on people All students need the opportunity to step up and share their thoughts and then step back and let others have their turn.

Easy ways to incorporate peer assessment into your lesson… Pen of Power: allocate a small number of red / green pens or highlighters to students in the lesson; at specified points they use these to move around the room as others are working, and underline / circle / highlight errors or strengths – you decide! Glorious Gallery – ask all students to clear the desks of everything other than the work to be assessed. Add two empty Post It Notes to each, students to move around the room and adding www and ebis. When students return to their own at the end they should circle one ebi and make a change that responds to it. Keep the Post it notes on the work as evidence. Green Pen Questions: students to read another student’s piece of work at the end of it - or half way through – using a green pen they should write down one or two questions they have for the other student that would help them improve their piece of work.

To sum up… Reflect on peer assessment in your lessons. Is it really effective and does it lead to progress? Does your class need training on how to peer assess? Could you provide a structure for them to feedback, using kind, specific and helpful comments? Do you then ask pupils to re-draft their work based on peer assessment feedback?

Want to discuss this further?

Our school is hosting it! 18th November NEEEPMEET 15 Our school is hosting it! 18th November Join up by clicking on the email and get your ticket to present an idea or sit and chill.

Adam and Eve

Romeo and Juliet