How do you all feel about grading classmate's work?

[aem31]

We had to go over a review sheet and grade our neighbor's work in class recently. Right off the bat, I found it objectionable. I feel like it is the instructor's responsibility to grade our papers. Her statement was that this would facilitate her grading the work. I just don't think, for one, that my job as a student is to help the teacher out with her grading. Secondly, I don't feel the process was fair. The study guide was mostly fill in the blank type stuff and it covered topics that had many correct answers...signs and symptoms of certain imbalances and what not. The grades were posted and I've not actually gotten to look at the work yet but I received a MUCH lower score than I have in my entire several years of school. I'm thinking perhaps that some items were marked as wrong because I had an answer that was correct but simply not called out. Eh....we'll see. I'm getting off topic, kind of, but it does go to show that the instructor should be the one doing the grading, imo.

What are your thoughts?

[Moogie]

I must have missed the spot where it was the students tests. I agree the test should only be graded by the teacher or GA but this sounds like it was just a study guide/review paper.

You are right. My bad. Re-reading the original post, it does appear to be a review sheet---but it's confusing because the OP states she was graded on this. So if it was just review and no grade was issued, then it's not as big a problem. But if it was a graded activity, it's not appropriate.

[Moogie]

We grade our own quizzes that are given. My teacher still goes over them afterwards though. I think it is ok, but in the case that you get a low grade or you feel cheated it gets iffy because who knows what that person did when they graded it. I would talk to your teacher before or after class expressing your concern. Do not say things like "it is your job as a teacher to grade the papers" though

Good grief----talk about tempting someone to change his/her answers and cheat!

I totally agree with ashleywaiting623 that the OP should NOT tell the teacher it's his/her job to grade the papers. Might be true but it could bite you in the backside.

[aem31]

Hey, guys. It wasn't a test but was graded work. The low score I received was due to an input error on the instructor's part. I actually got a 100.

That being said, I still feel it is the instructor's job to grade the work. But no, haha, I wouldn't say that to an instructor.

[llg, PhD, RN]

I agree that it is not appropriate for students to grade each others' tests and certain other types of assignments.

However ... just to throw a monkey wrench into the train of thought here ... I think it is OK for other students to have input into the evaluation of their classmates for some types of things. After all, "peer review" is a hallmark of professionalism, and if students don't get a chance to learn and practice peer review in school, then they will be unprepared for the real world of professional practice.

It's tricky though -- and is not appropriate for everything.

[Music in My Heart]

Personally, I've never had a problem with this practice.

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

I agree that it is not appropriate for students to grade each others' tests and certain other types of assignments.

However ... just to throw a monkey wrench into the train of thought here ... I think it is OK for other students to have input into the evaluation of their classmates for some types of things. After all, "peer review" is a hallmark of professionalism, and if students don't get a chance to learn and practice peer review in school, then they will be unprepared for the real world of professional practice.

It's tricky though -- and is not appropriate for everything.

Peer review for papers would be great, as long as there was a chance for revising, just as there is in the real world, before a final grade is given. After all, scholarly articles that have merit can go through revision prior to final acceptance/rejection for publication.

Revising based on commentary is a worthy exercise in and of itself that is sorely lacking in nursing school.

[cgravier]

this sounds like not a good idea. I would fail everyone just for spite.

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

I think it needs to be done more. As students you see what the others do way more than the instructor.

[Moogie]

this sounds like not a good idea. I would fail everyone just for spite.

I have known people who would do just that. Seriously.

Peer evaluation can be an amazing tool---and it is used extensively in practice so we do need to become familiar with it as students. However, there should be some sort of rubric to help students evaluate each other, to ensure consistency and fairness. Students need to learn how to evaluate each other, not let their subjective feelings (i.e., like or dislike) get in the way. In my experience, students are either way too lax with each other or they are completely the opposite and downright brutal in peer evaluation.

Constructive criticism is fine, but when it deteriorates into tearing someone down, it's no longer useful.

I still find the idea of students grading each other's review papers to be inappropriate. If it's a non-graded review, then everyone should grade his/her own paper. Why turn a test review into a competition to see how got the highest score?

[epinephRN]

Peer evaluation with a rubric, as Moogie mentions above, can be helpful in some cases such as rating contributions to a group project, etc.

However, giving any type of access to another student's grade is a FERPA violation and should not be done.

To get the benefit of group input, we allow the students to take a group test after they take their individual tests. This allows them to consult with their peers, make group decisions, and benefit from the knowledge of others. The group testing receives great feedback, and does not compromise the integrity of the exam or violate FERPA in the process.