In this exercise the students take part in a group session with the teacher in which they receive and give feedback on each other’s written exam assignments. The group session replaces individual feedback for which students often turn up unprepared. The students prepare in advance and write down strengths and weaknesses in the assignments. These notes form the basis of the session.
The students train their skills in assessing a written academic assignment and in giving and receiving constructive feedback. This improves their understanding as to why a certain grade is awarded to a written exam assignment. Moreover, you as a teacher will not need to spend an unnecessary amount of time providing individual feedback, possibly saying the same as many students anyway.
You as a teacher must inform the students in a message that rather than individual feedback they can receive feedback on their written assignment in a group session. In the message you write the guidelines for the session, what students should prepare (see item 3), and how the students can sign up for the session.
You then divide the students who signed up into small groups of two to five students. You may for instance organise the groups according to assignment topic, writing style, theory or method.
Before the session, the students must read their own assignments and write down strengths and weaknesses. They must also read the other group members’ assignments and write down a minimum of two strengths and two weaknesses.
When the session begins you as a teacher select an assignment for the first feedback. The three steps below are then followed in the session:
The student who wrote the assignment response starts by reading the strengths and weaknesses they wrote down.
Then the other students contribute with the strengths and weaknesses they registered.
Finally, you as a teacher comment on the contributions so far and offer supplementary remarks.
Then you move on to the next assignment and proceed until you have reviewed all the assignments. Spend about 10 to 15 minutes on each assignment.
When all the assignments have been reviewed, you end the session. You may do so by offering a few general thoughts and comments regarding the assignments.
How do you handle students who do not feel comfortable about participating in a group session but still want feedback on their assignment?
Should the students be told which grades the different assignments were awarded?
May the student who receives feedback comment on this? If so – when?
