Peer Review

Introduction

The Peer Review tool is used to facilitate peer feedback between students after submitting an assignment. Feedback can be provided in the form of text, audio, video, screen share, and attached files. Students also have the opportunity to rate peers' submissions based on a rubric, scale, or comment criteria configured by the instructor.

A complete peer feedback activity will consist of the following default modules/steps, along with a list of configurable options at each step:

  1. Instructions - Written instructions for students to follow. You can optionally attach video, audio, screen share, and files.
  2. Submission - Students hand in their deliverable for the assignment.
  3. Given Reviews - Students are paired with their peers and can leave feedback using a rubric, scale, and/or comment-based criteria.
  4. Received Reviews - The module where students read and interact with the feedback left by their peers.
  5. Configurable Grading - Configure which facets of the activity should be weighed in the students grade and synced with the Brightspace Gradebook.

Set Up Process

Each module can be configured in the same order that students complete them. Below are the configurations for each module/step of the Peer Review assignment.

Step 1

Instructions

The instructions module is where you will configure the overall assignment instructions, add optional attachments to the instructions, and configure the assignment to be individual or group-based.

To configure the collaboration options, select the Change button inside the Student collaboration menu.

Peer Review Instructions Module with Red Arrow Pointing to the Change Button

Once inside the Collaboration options menu, you can apply the following settings. Students can hand in either individually or as a group. The other setting you can adjust is whether students evaluate individually, within groups, outside of their group, or as a group.

Collaboration Options Menu

When back in the main Instructions module, by selecting the + Add Items button, you can optionally add attachments to further clarify the assignment parameters. Attachments can include:

  • Audio
  • Video
  • Screen Sharing
  • File Attachments

    Instructions Module with Red Arrow Pointing to the + Add Items Button


Step 2

Submissions

The following options can be configured in the Submissions module:

  • Required number of files to hand in.
  • Submission Deadlines (deadlines automatically sync to the Brightspace Calendar tool).
  • File type requirements.
  • Plagiarism Check (Powered by Turnitin).
  • Anonymity of Submission.
  • Submission Visibility.
    • Only assigned viewers can see student submissions.
    • Everyone can see all student submissions (after submission deadline).
    • Only students who handed in can see student submissions (after submission deadline).
  • Guiding Students.
    • Intended for providing further instruction on the Submission step specifically.

Note

For more information on Scheduling Deadlines and Granting Extensions, please visit the Scheduling Deadlines and Granting Extensions help page.

Submission Module with All Listed Configuration Options Expanded

Step 3

Given Reviews

The following options can be configured in the Given Reviews module:

  • Feedback Criteria - Selecting the Configure button will allow you to add a mixture of the following criteria:
    • Rubric Criteria
    • Scale Criteria
    • Comment Criteria

Note

To learn more about configuring the different types of criterion, visit the FeedbackFruits website and their How To: Set Up Feedback Criteria (Rubrics, Scales and Comment-Only) (opens in a new tab) help page.

  • Required number of peers to review.
  • Self-assessment that must be completed by the student before moving to Peer Review.
  • Scheduling Deadlines for Peer Review (this can be an additional deadline separate from the Submission deadline that will also automatically sync to the Brightspace Calendar tool)
  • Allocation Method (the method by which students are paired with each other). Select the Change button to adjust the following options:
    • Automatically - One by one
    • Automatically - All at once (this will be the default behavior if a deadline is placed on the Submission module)
    • Manually
    • Students choose who to review - Students will be presented with a list of names of peers to choose from.
  • Anonymity of reviewer
  • Review visibility options
  • Guiding Students
    • Intended for providing further instruction on the Submission step specifically. Can also include:
      • Feedback writing tips (configurable tips that guide students through the Peer Review process)
      • Review checklist (a checklist that students will see as they are reviewing)
      • AI Feedback Coach (AI-powered chatbot that gives students real-time feedback on the reviews they are giving)

Screenshot of Given Reviews Module with All Listed Configuration Options Expanded

Step 4

Received Reviews

The following options can be configured in the Received Reviews Module:

  • Optional Feedback on Feedback setting:
    • Students must use scale criteria to rate the feedback left by their peers
  • Scheduling Deadlines (this can be an additional deadline separate from the Submission and Given Reviews deadlines that will also automatically sync to the Brightspace Calendar tool)

Screenshot of Received Reviews Module with All Listed Configuration Options Expanded

Step 5

Configurable Grading

Note

To pass grades from FeedbackFruits to Brightspace, you must manually configure and attach a Brightspace Grade Item. For more information, please visit the Connect FeedbackFruits to the Brightspace Gradebook help page.

In the Configurable Grading step, configure the facets of the Peer Review assignment to be selected for grading, and the associated percentages. Select the CONFIGURE button to enable or disable facets completely using the sliders, or configure their percentages by entering the desired percentages into the weigh fields.

Screenshot of the Grading configuration with red arrow on showing the configure button

Screenshot of the grading configuration

Additionally, choose from the following Grading options:

  • Publish grade as either a percentage or pass/fail
  • Require participating for grade - If enabled, only students that open the learning activity receive a grade, and for the rest (non-participants) the grade remains blank.
  • Scheduling & auto-publish grades - Set a date for grades to automatically publish to Brightspace, and enable auto-publishing grades once all steps are completed by a student.

Screenshot of Configurable Grading Module with All Listed Configuration Options Expanded

Optional Additional Modules

The following modules can be added to the Peer Review configuration:

  • Automated Feedback on Writing (opens in new tab) - Students receive AI-generated feedback on their writing.
  • Participation Grading - Grade students' feedback based on their own selected best contributions.
  • Reflect on Activity - Students create a written reflection. Instructors can set scheduling deadlines and word counts.
  • Configurable Grading - Configure the facets of the Peer Review assignment to be selected for grading, and the associated percentages. This option is enabled by default but if it is disabled it will appear in this list.

Additional Modules Screen Showing Optional Automated Feedback on Writing, Participation Grading, Reflect on Activity, and Configurable Grading

Additional Resources

To further enhance your understanding on the functionalities of the Peer Review tool, please visit the FeedbackFruits website and their Peer Review (opens in a new tab) help pages.

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