Having Students Grade One Another's Assignments
When going through the course material, the section on having students grade one another's assignments stood out to me. I am interested in hearing the thoughts on this particular time saving technique. I can see how it could be efficient for the professor, but I am concerned about the students may altered one another's answers in order to improve the students' grades. The students may view it as an opportunity to help each other out. If anyone has attempted to use this technique, how has it worked out? Have you encountered any difficulties?
I would not be comfortable with this. It could become awkward if a student is asked to exchange papers and hasn't completed the assignment. I would also not want to embarrass a student who has not done well on an assignment. Grading is between me and the student, not the student and the rest of the class.
I've had students grade their own tests before. I try to stick with the least complex tests for them to grade. Other tests, I just have to take care of myself, but the times when it can be accomplished in the classroom by the students is a real time-saver.
Maria, These are important points! One way around these challenges is to assign students unique code numbers that they can use on exams instead of their names. Do not use their social security number or other personally identifiable information of course.
Dr. Melissa Read
I share your view on this. It's fun for 5th graders to do it. With adult learners, I don't disclose scores or performance grades to other students. It is their option, though, if they want to show their grades to their classmates.
It is indeed interesting to hear students exchange thoughts on a particular topic, but I would do this in a group discussion, which I think is a safer arena, than having them grade each other's work where I might have to deal with inferiority or superiority issues
If allowed by the institution, this is really a big help for instructors. However, some students may feel that having their classmates see their grades is having their right to privacy violated, which could lead to FERPA violation issues. This could also lead to issues among students.
I think this creates openess and dialogue around the material, and students begin to share their challenges with the coarse.
Maria, I appreciate your point. In some college subjects, particularly those that are complex, it does not make sense for students to grade each other's papers. There is a certain amount of expertise that the instructors bring that is often valuable when applied in grading. In other subjects, this is not the case. So we must use our best judgement when deciding how grading will be accomplished.
Dr. Melissa Read
I would not use this method of grading assessments. Students do not want other students knowing how they did on a test or assignment unless they have chosen to tell them.
I feel a bit uncomfortable having adults grade each others papers. I did this when I taught 5th grade and I felt it was alright for children, but at the college level, I feel like I am taking the easy way out.
I feel this is a very bad idea. I tried it a number of years ago and found that students tried to help their friends out and not mark down for incorrect answers. Also, to me it almost appears illegal as you are giving out information to others that is confidential to the student.
Some students complain over another students who they potentially may have to sacrifice being "partners" with a friendly classmate, and end up swapping papers with a not so friendly classmate, so sometimes that spews an argument, but good classroom management can usually quell that from the Instructor.
I would be interested in hearing responses on this topic as well. Where I teach, we have several homework assignments that are worth just a small amount of points. There would never be enough time for me to read and grade everyone’s answers on these homework assignments, so usually either I give them the points just for completing the assignment or we go over it in class before it is due so that everyone has the answers. Obviously, neither one of these options is ideal. I’m thinking about trying the idea of having them grade each other’s when they are due.
