The whole point of studying online is convenience. We want an education without the hassle of being tied to a physical place. We also want to not only get good grades but have our work assessed fairly and logically. Often times we spend a lot of time conducting research in order to craft our best piece of work but find that not everyone else sees it that way.
Having been an instructor in the past, I can say that fair academic assessment is a learned skill that does require practice.
The Down Side of Peer Assessment
Peer Assessment if not done correctly can definitely have a negative impact on the student's grades, overall performance, perception of grading and even their enthusiasm when doing other assignments. The point of peer assessment is to reinforce the unit material and give student's the chance to see other points of view and perspectives. It is not for the purpose of nitpicking and disagreeing with the points made. More significantly, it is not to be used as a means of revenge for a bad grade that you received due to a previous peer assessment that you did not particularly like or agree with. It quickly becomes frustrating because no one wants to see their hard work harshly or unjustly critiqued.
Opinions are subjective but do not allow them to make you become bitter.
Coping with What Your Peers Say
If it bothers you, speak about it but to the relevant people. The whole world does not need to know the details of what was said when your peers reviewed your work. Speak to a family member or a close friend but most of all, ensure that you politely bring this to the attention of the instructor in a timeous manner. Understand that with students from various cultural backgrounds come a myriad of opinions and ways of self-expression.
Remember that it is not entirely a reflection of you or the work that you put in.
Do not do to others what they have unjustly done to you.
Ever heard the expression "kill them with kindness"? Well, there you go.
Speak directly to your instructor.
Tips on How to Assess Academic Papers
Here are some simple but useful tips on how you can fairly assess the work of your peers:
Ensure that you have enough time set aside to thoroughly read through each assignment. If you are not a seasoned instructor this should take you more than 3 minutes after reading.
Look at the assessment rubric and understand what each segment means. Understand how many points you should allot of just one piece of information is missing or if everything is there.
Don't become the grammar police. It is true that sometimes there are a few errors but be mindful that you don't need to drop a whole three points because of that. Ensure that you understand APA, MLA and any other style being used.
Always explain why you deducted points. Make sure your explanation is logical and fair. Be polite by saying "please work on... ,it would help if..., could have been improved by..." etc.
Provide constructive criticism and feedback. Always point out what was good then explain what could be adjusted or included. So because you do not agree with the points made it means the information is wrong? NO. If the points are well supported and logical then there is no reason for you to go deducting points.
Be kind and fair. What you put out is often what you receive. Kindness does not mean giving full marks for everything or for relevant information that is missing. It means being considerate and mindful.
What You Can Learn from Peer Assessment
The world is diverse and so are the opinions of others. If anything, peer assessment can increase your cultural intelligence and that's never a bad thing. It helps you to learn how to assess others and if done right, it increases your emotional intelligence and tolerance. Academic assessment is a skill that you can learn more about should you want to enter the field of education. It undoubtedly teaches us about fairness and kindness.
What Should Be Done About Peer Assessment
Peer assessment can be useful if done the right way. In my humble opinion, if our peers do not take the time out to do it the right way, it can quickly become disastrous. Should it be optional? Perhaps, but that would mean no one would do it. Should it be left up to the instructor since they are more qualified? Maybe but that would mean a greater workload for them and losing the opportunity to develop certain skills that also increase our cultural awareness. What are your thoughts?
Yes, constructive criticism is not an easy feat for some as it requires us to put our personal biases and feelings aside. Thank you for your thoughts and feedback.
Well appreciated Krissey for the helpful and informative article. I can't agree with you more on the core purpose and etiquette of providing logical, fair, and constructive criticism and feedback of peer assessment. Always keep in mind that your peers are humans too and have feelings, and busy as well in this life and have other commitments. It happened to me that I kept receiving negative grading for items indicated as fully addressing the relevant requirements by some peers in a previous course! that's why afterwards I stopped reviewing the provided peers' notes since I'm so sensitive to such issues and wouldn't like to have bad feelings for any peer!