Critical Thinking Toward the Journal

Analysis Critical Thinking towards the Journal of P2P : Assessing a Peer Evaluation Strategy, by Ching When Chang, Cathy J.Pearman and Nicholas W. Farha, Missouri State University and Logan University.

·       1.   Examine the evidence/ the argument presented

In the background of study the authors’ argument stated that previously research has shown about active students engagement teaching learning process in the classroom enhances knowledge acquisition. It can be improving their outcomes very well (Todd and Hudson, 2007). Thus, the researcher wants to prove that Peer Evaluation also believed can improve students’ critical thinking and high outcomes. According to the researcher Peer Evaluation has a number of pedagogical benefits.

Purpose of study is to prove that Peer Evaluation is the best strategy to improve students’ critical thinking and can train themselves how to observe and measure their peer. Based on the evidence in real life, students are frustrated because they cannot avoid the mistake while doing their project or assignment. Thus, the researchers ask them to check their friends project and correct the mistakes each other, so they can know whether their project well or not.

In the research question, the researchers want to make sure that whether Peer Evaluation gives students opportunity to align their own projects with the rubric. In the other hand the literature review shows many scholars perspective about Peer Evaluation, according to the literature review Peer Evaluation is the best process to provide students to learn from their peers and also involves sharing activity which can lead them in terms of enabling contextualized professional development. Other scholar also mentioned that Peer Evaluation also improves student ability to receive constructive feedback.

Based on this journal the researchers proved that peer evaluation process facilitates additional opportunities for students to read and apply rubrics, pay more attention to detailed project requirement, and practice critical thinking skills as a result of evaluating each peers’ project. This research shows that more than 90% of the participants agreed this process played an important role in the enhancement of the quality of their project. because existence of peer evaluation makes the participants spend time carefully reading rubrics and comparing them to project task. The statistical analysis indicated that more that 75 % students believed the feedback peers was helpful, constructive and professional.

·         2. Check out any influences on the evidence or argument

Previous researcher, Todd and Hudson found that Peer Evaluation assignment encouraged students to think critically, students can synthesize information and write about course material. this way also improves students’ grade. This previous study surely influences the evidence or the argument for this article to do more research. Based on the research findings, there is any influence about peer assessment. The process of this research required them to take the time to read the rubric carefully and realize what they had missed on their own project by paying more attention to the details. Thus, if students use their critical thinking skills, they will employ peer projects systematically and it could improve the quality of their project.

·        3.  Check out the limitation of the study design, examine the interpretation mode

In the limitation of study, the researcher said that peer evaluation is not comprehensively affective and not necessarily generalize to some educational environment or population due to the limited sample of this research. According to the researcher, the research need more additional research to develop the ideas broadly.

·         4. Decide to what extent you are prepared to accept the author’s argument, opinion, or conclusion

Based on the conclusion in the research, I am totally agree about authors’ argument, Implementing a peer evaluation helped students learn and teach each others. This method also can increase students’ critical thinking, and provide this feedback to their peers in a professional manner. They also improved their own project and gain ideas by reviewing their peers’ project. Peer feedback also helps teacher to reduce teacher workload, because of the process assessing can be replaced by the students’ itself.