Active Learning CoP #10 | 10 December 2024

Active Learning CoP #10 - The challenges of peer-assessment

10th of December | online | 10.00 - 12.00

To attend the session please join our Active Learning CoP or book through our booking system. 

For our 10th meeting, we are joined by Dr Graham Wilson, a tutor in psychology, counselling, and photography at the University of Oxford, to examine peer-based critical assessment – widely, but especially in creative and therapeutic fields. 

This workshop will explore the complexities of peer-based critical assessment in undergraduate education, focusing on disciplines such as photography, art, architecture, and counselling but applicable to a wider range. Peer critique, or 'crit', is a staple in creative fields, while 'observer feedback' plays a crucial role in counselling training. Both approaches aim to foster critical thinking, self-awareness, and collaborative learning by placing students in evaluative roles. However, these methods present unique challenges.

Firstly, the issue of power dynamics often surfaces. Peers may be reluctant to provide honest feedback due to concerns about damaging relationships or fear of being judged themselves. This can lead to overly cautious or insincere critiques, undermining the learning process. In contrast, overly harsh feedback can cause harm, especially in sensitive contexts like counselling, where emotional and psychological safety are paramount.

Secondly, the subjective nature of evaluation in creative and therapeutic fields complicates the process. Unlike disciplines with clear-cut answers, art, architecture, and therapy involve interpretations that may vary widely between students. This raises questions about fairness, consistency, and the development of objective assessment criteria in peer-led evaluations.

Thirdly, the emotional toll on students giving and receiving feedback needs careful consideration. For those on the receiving end, critiques can feel deeply personal, particularly in areas where the self is intertwined with the work, such as counselling. The workshop will address strategies for managing this emotional labour, ensuring feedback remains constructive and supportive.

Through interactive discussions and case studies, participants will critically examine these challenges and explore best practices for designing peer-assessment processes that are both rigorous and empathetic, ensuring that students develop as reflective practitioners. The session will appeal to educators across creative and therapeutic disciplines looking to refine their approaches to peer-based assessment.

About the guest speaker

Graham has been teaching psychology, counselling, and photography at the University of Oxford and elsewhere for the last ten years.  His courses at Oxford cover aspects of coaching, psychology, counselling, and photography.  He is the author of several textbooks on these subjects too.  Following his PhD in Behavioural Science, Graham spent a decade as an organisation development consultant helping to create employee-driven workplaces.  A BACP registered psychotherapist, he recently retired as Coordinator of HE Counselling Courses at Guildford College.  He also leads government funded programmes of therapeutic photography within Oxfordshire.