Online classesare growing in popularity as a result of the changing nature of the educational landscape. One of the most well-known educational ideas in use today is collaborative learning, in which students are divided into smaller groups to debate and solve issues, complete tasks, and learn from one another. The concept is not new; it was well investigated in the early group teaching research.
However, the development of contemporary technology and the value that contemporary culture has put on collaboration have increased the prevalence of collaborative learning. The versatility, accessibility, and convenience of online education are its benefits (Influence, 2023). A few of the issues that could occur include isolation, a lack of drive, and unsatisfactory feedback. What methods can you use to succeed as a distance learner? Utilising peer input and collaboration, which may increase one's skill, knowledge, and self-assurance, is a productive strategy. There are different online collaboration tools that are used in the modern era.
However, one of the difficulties with online education is the lack of opportunities for direct and instantaneous instructor input. Here's where peer feedback comes in handy; it's a powerful method for encouraging teamwork and improving education. there are different problem based learning strategies that can be utlised. There are various methods for encouraging students to actively participate in each other's learning through the use of peer feedback in online courses.
Establishment of a supportive environment
Building a positive community for online learning is essential before delving into the intricacies of peer feedback. Inspire kids to share their ideas and work together by facilitating open dialogue. Children may use different websites for their online classes such asPay To Take My Online Class. It is important to make available an online forum where people may freely express their opinions and express any worries they may have (Krause, 2020). This atmosphere of mutual support paves the way for useful criticism from classmates, resulting in enhanced teamwork and knowledge acquisition.
Defining guidelines and expectations
Establishing clear expectations and rules is crucial for effective peer feedback. Give them a structure for delivering feedback that emphasises helpful criticism and solutions that may be implemented. Encourage students to give constructive comments by stressing the need of respect and empathy in the process (CTL, 2023). Students will feel more comfortable both giving and receiving comments if certain guidelines are established beforehand. Many learners may need to practise both offering and accepting constructive comments. Provide instruction on how to give useful criticism by stressing the need for precision, clarity, and the inclusion of improvement recommendations. You may model constructive criticism for your pupils and have them practise offering it in a safe setting.
Promoting peer collaboration and learning
Students can get insight from one another via the process of giving and receiving peer evaluation. It is possible that some students might find it difficult with specific subjects, for example maths. Then they might avoid taking the online class and search for platforms or ask people toTake My Online Math Class For Me. It is necessary to assign group assignments or create online discussion boards where students may share their work and get constructive criticism to promote student collaboration and learning. Students gain valuable communication and critical thinking skills via collaborative learning with their peers.
Utilizing structured feedback formats
In an online setting when face-to-face contacts may be limited, providing students with organised feedback styles may be quite beneficial. There are different inquiry based learning techniques that can be used. Create review forms or questionnaires that may be used as guides for students to evaluate their work on specified criteria. Have them assess the thesis statement's precision or the soundness of the supporting evidence. Providing students with structured feedback forms helps them zero in on the most important aspects of their work (Tan and Chen, 2022).
Fostering a growth mindset
Feedback from peers should be presented as an opportunity for progress rather than a judgement of one's talents, in keeping with the principles of the growth mindset. Remind them that constructive criticism is an essential element of their development as students. Students have an increased receptivity to constructive criticism and an increased drive to act on it when taught to adopt a growth mindset.
Providing guidance for effective feedback
Students may appreciate the value of feedback but lack the competence to deliver it properly. Instruct people on how to give feedback that is helpful, but not destructive. Motivate your pupils to take a balanced approach by highlighting both their accomplishments and opportunities for growth (Brgermeister et al., 2021). Students can actively contribute to each other's learning if they have the tools to provide constructive comments.
Encouraging revision and reflection
The feedback process from peers should continue beyond the initial comments. Instruct pupils to think about the comments they get and use them to improve their work. This iterative method encourages introspection, analysis, and progress. Students acquire a growth attitude and make better use of peer criticism when they are taught the importance of revising their work.
Monitoring and facilitating feedback process.
The process of peer feedback must be closely monitored and facilitated. Maintain contact with your pupils and be there to help or clarify anything they may be confused about. It's important to check feedback on a regular basis to make sure it's useful and clear up any confusion (GW, 2017). By contributing to the peer feedback process, you can show how valuable it is and encourage others to adopt a similar mindset.
Benefits of using peer feedback in online classes
Students' ability to learn from and actively participate in online courses is greatly enhanced by peer feedback. Students can pick the brains of their classmates, hone their analytical abilities, and increase their knowledge of the material using this method (Yu and Wu, 2013). It takes significant preparation and execution to implement peer feedback mechanisms in online classrooms.
Students benefit from receiving helpful criticism from their peers through peer feedback. The strengths and faults of an individual can be exposed and discussed amongst peers. Students may improve the quality of their work and the consequences of their learning experiences by using this feedback to modify and tweak their assignments or projects before submitting them.
An encouraging and welcoming learning atmosphere may be created through peer evaluation. It fosters a sense of community and cooperation among students by having them encourage and promote one another (Liu and Lee, 2013). Peer feedback is valued by many students because it provides a more relaxed and personal learning environment than that provided by teachers alone.
Students gain insight into their own learning and knowledge as they deliver constructive criticism to their classmates. This kind of introspection fosters metacognition, which is the ability to reflect on and analyse one's own cognitive practises. Students learn about their unique learning styles and develop the ability to learn independently as a result.
Students benefit from learning how to communicate and work together with their peers through peer feedback. They need to give feedback that is helpful and specific, express their ideas clearly, and have courteous conversations. Feedback from one's peers is a great way to hone the communication and teamwork skills that will serve you well in school and the workplace.
References
Influence, S. (2023) How can online learners leverage peer feedback and collaboration to enhance their performance?, Leverage Peer Feedback and Collaboration for Online Learning. Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/advice/3/how-can-online-learners-leverage-peer-feedback (Accessed: 29 May 2023).
Yu, F.Y. and Wu, C.P., 2013. Predictive effects of online peer feedback types on performance quality. Journal of Educational Technology Society, 16(1), pp.332-341.
Liu, E.Z.F. and Lee, C.Y., 2013. Using peer feedback to improve learning via online peer assessment. Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology-TOJET, 12(1), pp.187-199.
Brgermeister, A., Glogger-Frey, I. and Saalbach, H. (2021) Supporting peer feedback on learning strategies: Effects on self-efficacy and feedback quality, Psychology Learning Teaching, 20(3), pp. 383404. doi:10.1177/14757257211016604.
CTL (2023) Resources and Technology, Columbia CTL. Available at: https://ctl.columbia.edu/resources-and-technology/teaching-with-technology/teaching-online/community-building/ (Accessed: 29 May 2023).
GW (2017) 10 strategies to build on student collaboration in the classroom: The Graduate School of Education and Human Development: The George Washington University, The Graduate School of Education and Human Development. Available at: https://gsehd.gwu.edu/articles/10-strategies-build-student-collaboration-classroom (Accessed: 29 May 2023).
Krause, C. (2020) How to forge a strong community in an online classroom, Edutopia. Available at: https://www.edutopia.org/article/how-forge-strong-community-online-classroom (Accessed: 29 May 2023).
Tan, J.SH. and Chen, W. (2022) Peer feedback to support collaborative knowledge improvement: What kind of feedback feed-forward?, Computers Education, 187, p. 104467. doi:10.1016/j.compedu.2022.104467.
