Self and peer assessment
What is it?
"Self assessment means the process of having the learners critically reflect upon, record the progress of and perhaps suggest grades for, their own learning."
"The term peer assessment refers to the process of having the learners critically reflect upon, and perhaps suggest grades for, the learning of their peers."
(Roberts,T. Self, peer, and group assessment in e-learning, Information Science, 2006)
Why use it?
Self assessment
- Encourage reflection
- Help lecturers focus their feedback (e.g. not telling students what they are already aware of)
- An important skill in itself – helping students become more autonomous learners
Peer assessment
- Students practice softer skills e.g. constructive criticism
- Help students learn from each other and place their own work
- Students naturally compare themselves with their peers
- Encourage engagement with marking criteria
- Promote deep learning e.g. evaluation
- More efficient & timely feedback for large groups
Race, P.(2006) The lecturer’s toolkit – a practical guide to assessment, learning and teaching Routledge
Examples
Self and peer assessment case studies
How do I start using self and peer assessment?
Planning
If you are considering introducing peer and/or self assessment then firstly please refer to the workflow below (Paul Orsmond, 2004) which provides a useful planning framework. Further information is provided in our planning pages.
Tools
A range of tools can be used for self and peer assessment. Blackboard has a self and peer assessment activity which provides a means to manage the workflow associated with:
- Electronic submission of student work
- Distribution of anonymised student work to one or more peers
- Provision of criteria for evaluation of submitted work
- Provision for commented feedback and mark allocation
- Self-evaluation by the student of their own work (optional)
- Tailored permissions for users to see the grades and comments assigned by their peers
These activities are grouped into two phases; 1. Submission and 2. Assessment, each of which are time-managed, as shown in the flowchart below.
What support is available?
If you would like to discuss your plans for Self and Peer assessment or need any advice please contact the e-learning team e-learning@bristol.ac.uk
If you require practical guidance, e.g. Guides to using both self and peer assessment and wikis in Blackboard then please refer to the Blackboard Help tab. To access this log in to Blackboard and click on Help at the top right of the page.
Further information and useful links
Self and Peer Assessment, guidance on Practice in the Biosciences, Paul Orsmond, 2004 (.pdf - opens in a new window)
The lecturer’s toolkit – a practical guide to assessment, learning and teaching, Phil Race, 2006
Self, peer, and group assessment in e-learning, Tim Roberts, 2006