Easy Peer Editing

Prior to semester:

1. Design course related questions or other writing activities to be implemented in class time.

In class

1. Explain to students that this exercise is beneficial for examination practice and work places to analyse, apply and evaluate knowledge and obtain feedback when working in a group

2. Explain to students that this exercise has a time limit similar to an examination setting

2. In a class of thirty students, divide students into groups of six

3. Ask the groups to produce a response to the set questions or other writing tasks, within a set time, set by you

4. Within each group, ask the students to pair themselves and to take on the tasks of drafting, editing and then finalising the response to the question

5. Ask each group to develop a document with three columns: Draft; Edit and Final

6. Explain to students that:

• The first pair collaborates to produce the draft response and places their answer in the first column  

• The second pair edit the draft and place the edited version into the second column

• The third pair takes on the production of the final and polished response and place the final version into the third column of the document

7. Explain to students that they will be sharing their document via Google docs or other means e.g. a Dropbox folder

8. Inform students that when the non-working pairs are waiting for the next stage, they can be:

• Preparing the readings and research for the upcoming task

• Developing criteria (for example a rubric) which they will use to evaluate their work

• Managing the technical aspects of the process - setting up Dropbox folders for collecting, storing and sharing as appropriate

9. The final responses are posted to a forum in Blackboard (Bb) for comment and feedback

10. Review the feedback and discussion in the following class to comment on the process of analysing, applying and evaluating knowledge in the peer editing process.

EXTENSION

1. Allocate three short questions to each group 

2. Each pair drafts their answer

3. Distribute the answers to the next group for editing

4. Pass the edited version to the next group to finalise the activity

5. All final responses are posted to a forum in Bb for comment and feedback

6. Review the feedback and discussion in the following class to comment on the process of analysing, applying and evaluating knowledge in the peer editing process.