How can you improve peer review and collaboration in writing courses?

1 Define the goals and criteria

Before you assign any peer review or collaborative task, make sure you clarify the purpose, expectations, and standards of the activity. What are the learning outcomes you want to achieve? What are the specific aspects of the writing that you want the students to focus on? How will you assess the quality and contribution of the feedback and collaboration? Provide clear and consistent guidelines and rubrics for both the reviewers and the writers, and model how to use them effectively.

2 Use online tools and platforms

Technology can enhance peer review and collaboration in writing courses by providing more opportunities, flexibility, and convenience for students. You can use online tools and platforms to create, share, edit, and comment on documents, such as Google Docs, Microsoft Word Online, or Dropbox Paper. You can also use online forums, chats, or video calls to facilitate communication and discussion among students, such as Moodle, Slack, or Zoom. These tools can help you organize, monitor, and support the peer review and collaboration process, as well as encourage student engagement and participation.

3 Vary the formats and methods

Peer review and collaboration in writing courses can take different forms and methods, depending on the goals, stages, and types of the writing tasks. You can vary the formats and methods of peer review and collaboration to suit the needs and preferences of your students, as well as to provide more diversity and challenge. For example, you can use individual, pair, or group peer review, or a combination of them. You can use synchronous or asynchronous peer review, or a mix of them. You can use written or oral feedback, or both. You can use self-, peer-, or teacher-assessment, or a blend of them.

4 Provide training and support

Peer review and collaboration in writing courses require specific skills and strategies that students may not have or may not be confident in. Therefore, it is important to provide training and support for students to develop and improve their peer review and collaboration skills and strategies. You can use various activities and resources to help students learn how to give and receive constructive feedback, how to work effectively with others, how to negotiate and resolve conflicts, and how to reflect and act on feedback. You can also provide ongoing feedback and guidance for students throughout the peer review and collaboration process.

5 Encourage reflection and action

Peer review and collaboration in writing courses are not only about giving and receiving feedback, but also about reflecting and acting on feedback. Therefore, it is essential to encourage students to reflect on their own and others' feedback, and to use it to improve their writing. You can use various techniques and questions to prompt students to think critically and creatively about their feedback, such as metacognitive prompts, summary statements, or action plans. You can also require students to submit revisions or portfolios that show how they have incorporated feedback into their writing.

6 Foster a positive and respectful culture

Peer review and collaboration in writing courses depend on the quality and tone of the feedback and interaction among students. Therefore, it is vital to foster a positive and respectful culture in your writing course, where students feel comfortable, valued, and motivated to give and receive feedback and to collaborate with others. You can use various strategies and practices to create and maintain such a culture, such as setting and enforcing ground rules, building rapport and trust, celebrating successes and efforts, addressing issues and concerns, and providing recognition and rewards.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?