Assessing Other Groups Assessments

In the beginning of the semester, our class had the opportunity to assess each other’s mission statements. The process was invigorating in that it allowed us to not only critique other’s work (which allowed the other groups to adjust their missions based on the feedback ) but it also gave us an opportunity to reflect on our own mission. The result of the activity encouraged the crucial group discussions necessary for any mission to be successful. That is, it provided the initiative to think critically, reflect and come to group consensus on a mission statement.

Recently, I tried a similar approach to assessment in my Basic Skills class. In the HSPA, open-ended mathematics questions are worth a maximum of 3 points. The points are earned based on the validity of the answer as well as the process used to arrive at the solution. I provided each group of students with a sample open ended question, a large Post-It, and markers. I asked each group to post their solution on the wall. Then, I provided students with a sample rubric and some sample graded solutions. After the students reviewed these documents, they were asked to grade each others work by following the rubric. It was interesting to see the students critique each others work. Most exciting though, was their desire to update their own work in the midst of the process. I was thrilled to realize that in the process of assessing others work, the students were reflecting on their own work!

Asking students to place themselves in the assessor’s shoes is a valuable teaching technique. It provides a means though which students can become self-assessors, viewing their own work through with an assessors’ eye.