University of Florida uses peer review of written assignments to increase interaction in online courses and build a sense of community among students.
Peer reviews are used to increase interaction in online courses and build a sense of community among students.
The Professional Writing course, required of all students enrolled in our Internet MBA Degree Program at the University of Florida, focuses on acquiring and practicing traditional business writing skills. Their writing assignments are, of course, critiqued and evaluated by the professor, but that single level of interaction offered minimal student engagement. To pump up the interaction, we added asynchronous peer evaluation activities.
On selected assignments, students anonymously review and critique the writing of their peers. This is handled asynchronously via a special adaptation of the "blind answer" discussion activity . Here's how it works.
Increases online interaction and builds a sense of community among students.
none.
Very low; some extra faculty time needed to set up the activity.
Lynch, D.H. & Golen, S. Peer Evaluation of Writing in Buisness Communication Classes. Journal of Education for Business, 08832323, Sep/Oct92, Vol. 68, Issue 1.
Zinn, A. Ideas in Practice: Assessing Writing in the Developmental Classroom. Journal of Developmental Education, 08943907, Winter98, Vol. 22, Issue 2.