Blackboard Peer Evaluation Followup

So, I wouldn't say that it revolutionized peer evaluation for me. BUT, it did streamline the process, take some of the work off of my plate, AND it performed about the same or maybe even slightly better than my "traditional" peer evals.

The best part was that the kids put their essay into Blackboard. Then, Blackboard did the rest of the work. It sorted and gave everyone two essays to read. Then, when they were done it gave the feedback to the appropriate learner. I did not have to touch one essay for the kids to get feedback AND for me to have record of the feedback they were given.

The usual events transpired after the evaluation process. A kid who completely disagrees with everything the feedback says. A kid who got practically NO feedback because their reader didn't put much effort into it, etc. These things aren't new, and I handled them pretty much the exact same way--get a third opinion and/or teacher opinion.

The fact that this was so streamlined and EASY means that I can do more peer evaluation and more self evaluation without adding more to my plate. The kids get their feedback almost immediately and I just have to open the assignment to see exactly what was said and by whom. So, I think all in all it was a success. Definitely a tool I will be relying on in the future.

Blackboard Self and Peer Evaluation Feature

Last year our school became a one-to-one iPad district. A year before that, I was given the opportunity to try out Blackboard as my classroom website. I had a class set of netbooks and was able to utilize Blackboard on a trial basis. To be completely honest, I was less than thrilled with what Blackboard had to offer. I had used Blackboard before, and there were some really great features, but at the same time, there were some serious limits: the inability to make it pretty (which bothers me more than anything else), the fact that it takes 15 clicks to post one item, and the sometimes cumbersome navigation. So, trying out Blackboard for the second time, I assumed I would encounter the same problems. For the most part, I did.

On the other hand, Blackboard had come quite a ways in terms of the features and navigation options. It may be the Blackboard had evolved, it may be that our district was paying more for those features, or it may be that I have a better idea of what I am doing now than I did back then. Either way, I discovered some features that I like more than I had expected I would. One of those features is the self and peer evaluation feature.

In the old days (hahaha...there are a few ladies in my department who will shoot me when they read that!), we would have students bring a draft in to class. They would switch papers, and there would be absolutely nothing anonymous about the peer feedback process. The students would be embarrassed someone else is reading their work, then they would be embarrassed to share their comments. More often than not the default would be generic, vague, and unhelpful feedback.  Over the years of teaching AP English Language I had created a system that mostly works. The kids only use their ID#, no names. The kids would fill out rubrics I had created to help them get to more specific feedback. I would have them work with essays from a different class period, etc. All of this was better, but it was a TON of work and preplanning on my part.

Blackboard has helped to streamline this process.  This blog is going to focus on the steps for setting up a peer evaluation. I will post after completing the process with my kids about the results of using it in class:

1. Create a new assignment (Be sure to click the Self and Peer Evaluation assignment type)
2. Set the options and due date for the submission process
3. Write the question(s) the kids are responding to
4. Provide a model response in the provided box for the kids to use DURING THE EVALUATION PROCESS (kids can not see this when submitting their work)
5. Set the options and due date for the evaluation process
6. Click on the little arrow next to the question and choose criteria to set up the rubric for scoring (if desired)...each criteria has to be created individually

NOTES:

• I create the two parts of the assignment on different due dates to try and make it less       confusing. 
• I usually set up the evaluation to be done in class.
• I usually require the kids to evaluate two submissions.
• Try to make the criteria as specific and small as you can

Here is what it looks like:

The first time the kids go to the assignment they see this: 

As soon as they click on View/Complete Assessment the submission window will open. My advice is to have the students copy and paste their essay/answers into the boxes.

When the submission time frame closes, the students can log back into Blackboard and will see the same screen. This time when they click on View/Complete Assessment they will see a screen that looks something like this:

They will then click on the Names to see the submissions of the other students and their own if you have set up the self-evaluation option. For each submission to review they will see a screen with the submitted essay and the rubric. They are also given a blank box to leave additional comments beyond the rubric. In fact, you can set up an evaluation without a rubric if you'd like. It will look something like this (only there will be an actual submission in the currently empty box):

The criteria you set for the rubric can be clicked on one at a time, evaluated and commented on.

When the evaluation window has ended, the kids return to Blackboard, click on View/Complete Assessment again, and this time they will see Usernames just like before (User 1, etc if anonymous). When they click on each user, they can see the score and feedback they were left.

Alright, I am trying it out again. I've done it once with a small paragraph, but needed to work out some kinks. Here's hopin' it goes well!