Open AccessUsing Peer Feedback to Enhance the Quality of Student Online Postings: An Exploratory Study
Author(s) -
Ertmer Peggy A.,
Richardson Jennifer C.,
Belland Brian,
Camin Denise,
Connolly Patrick,
Coulthard Glen,
Lei Kimfong,
Mong Christopher
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of computer‐mediated communication
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.15
H-Index - 119
ISSN - 1083-6101
DOI - 10.1111/j.1083-6101.2007.00331.x
Subject(s) - peer feedback , quality (philosophy) , perception , psychology , online learning , computer science , exploratory research , medical education , mathematics education , multimedia , medicine , sociology , anthropology , philosophy , epistemology , neuroscience
This study investigates the impact of peer feedback used as an instructional strategy to increase the quality of students’ online postings. While peer feedback has been demonstrated to support students’ learning in traditional classrooms, little is known about its efficacy in online discussions. To address this gap, we examined students’ perceptions of the value of giving and receiving peer feedback, specifically related to the quality of discussion postings in an online course. In addition, we investigated the impact of that feedback by comparing the quality of students’ postings, based on Bloom’s taxonomy, from pre‐course to post‐course. Results suggest that the quality of students’ postings was maintained through the use of peer feedback despite students’ preferences for instructor feedback. Students noted that peer feedback can be valuable and, more importantly, described how giving peer feedback not only reinforced their learning but enabled them to achieve higher understanding.