Evaluating Designs for Web-Assisted Peer and Group Assessment

Abstract

Activities, such as peer-group discussion and peer review, where studentsassist each other by commenting on and assessing each other’s coursework, are thought to be beneficial and effective in many aspects. Web-based technology has opened up new possibilities for peer- and group-assessment activities. Three main Web functions—e-resources, e-display,and e-communication—are discussed in this chapter in the context of sixcases of teachers using peer and group assessment in a Hong Konguniversity. These cases use different levels of Web enhancement. Evaluationof the six cases involved student surveys, focus-group interviews, teachersurveys, analysis of forum postings, and counter site logs. The chapterprovides an analysis of this evaluation data within the various designs ofthese courses. The data collected generally confirm that Web-enabled peer-and group-assessment activities can produce positive results. The need forcareful planning for these types of assessment activities is also clearlyillustrated.