Using peer critique to promote learning

Abstract

The purpose of this Writer's Forum is to suggest a peer critique strategy and to present a rubric that can help students become more self‐regulated learners who are capable of carefully assessing their own work and who can benefit from specific feedback provided by a critical friend. Too often assignment directions are not completely followed resulting in incomplete learning, lower grades, and frustration on the part of both the student and teacher who are forced to spend additional time rewriting and re‐correcting. By becoming skilled in how to use a rubric to guide their efforts and by learning how to benefit from suggestions made by a critical friend, students have an increased opportunity to help each other as they work together toward the successful completion of assignments. Potential challenges along with potential solutions and benefits are also discussed.