Welcome to the RSC WM

Peer assessment and group work

event and practical workshop

RSC WM Stimulating and supporting innovation in learning

Objectives for the day

delegates will have an opportunity to: Consider the value of peers and group work for feedback

and the development of independent learning

gain an understanding or how WebPA and Peerwise work and can be used to set and support peer assessment  activities

have an opportunity to try out both WebPA and Peerwise

have access to and opportunity to explore (free, online) resources that help plan, manage and support group work effectively (for staff and students)

RSC WM Stimulating and supporting innovation in learning

Over to you…

What are your main objectives today?

What do you personally hope to gain from this event?

RSC WM Stimulating and supporting innovation in learning

Peer assessment is…

1. the process of students giving formative or summative feedback to each other

2. it may or may not involve the provision of a grade

3. It can be 1 to 1 but is often a group activity

4. It is suited to many types of activity and any discipline

RSC WM Stimulating and supporting innovation in learning

What works?

presentations, reports, essay plans, calculations, annotated bibliographies, practical work, poster displays, portfolios and exhibitions.

There is good reason to use highly objective assessments, with straightforward answers (e.g. calculations) rather than assessments with low objectivity, such as essays.

Race (1999)

http://www.celt.mmu.ac.uk/ltia/issue4/langanwheater.shtmlRSC WM Stimulating and supporting innovation in learning

Over to you…

Are you/your staff using peer assessment?

What do you see as the biggest advantages and challenges of using peer assessment?

RSC WM Stimulating and supporting innovation in learning

Using peer assessment, where pairs or groups comment constructively on one another's work, enables students to understand assessment criteria and deepens their learning in several ways, including:a) learning from the way others have approached an

assessment task (structure, content, analysis) and

b) learning through assessing someone else's work, which encourages them to evaluate and benchmark their own performance and to improve it.

RSC WM Stimulating and supporting innovation in learning

Paving the way to success

Code of practice for the assurance of academic quality and standards in higher education

Higher level skills

The QAA expects programmes to address: intellectual skills practical skills transferable/key skills

“The ability to monitor, critically assess and correct one’s own work is a key goal of higher education and of lifelong learning.”

RSC WM Stimulating and supporting innovation in learning

Skills for learning and life

Higher level learning skills: research skills analysis and synthesis of knowledge critical thinking & reflection Problem solving Communication skills

Life skills Team work Evaluation resourcefulness

RSC WM Stimulating and supporting innovation in learning

Quality in Assessment

Engages students with the assessment criteria

Supports personalised learning

Ensures feedback leads to improvement

Focuses on student development

Stimulates dialogue

Considers staff and tutor effort

ESCAPE Project - quality in learning from assessment practices

RSC WM Stimulating and supporting innovation in learning

7 principles of good feedback

1. helps clarify what good performance is (goals, criteria, standards)

2. facilitates the development of self-assessment and reflection in learning

3. delivers high quality information to students about their learning

4. encourages teacher and peer dialogue around learning

5. encourages positive motivational beliefs and self esteem

6. provides opportunities to close the gap between current and desired performance

7. provides information to teachers that can be used to help shape teaching.

Nicol and Macfarlane-Dick (2006)RSC WM Stimulating and supporting innovation in learning