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Group Critiques

What is it?

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Group critique refers to a method of analysis in which a group of people critique a work, project, or assignment and gives feedback to the creator. In a classroom groups can be given a rubric to aid them in the critique process or the critique can be based solely on opinion such as is traditional with writing workshop critiques.

Group Critiques

What are the educational uses and benefits?

Assessment
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  • Allows the instructor to see what learning has already occurred on the part of the student(s).
  • Allows the instructor to view the growth of the student over a period of time.
Communication
  • Encourages positive communication skills among students.
Feedback
  • Gives formative feedback that allows the student to revise a project or assignment.
  • Gives the creator alternative opinions, viewpoints, or ideas.
  • Feedback from groups of peers can be perceived as richer and can be more readily accepted than instructor feedback.
  • Allows the student to try out ideas on an audience prior to finishing a project or assignment.
  • Encourages students to critically view their own and other's works.

Group Critiques

How do I get started?

Face to Face
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  • Create the assignment.
  • Create a set of guidelines for acceptable behavior in the group. For example:
    • What is an acceptable level of participation and how will students be held accountable for their participation?
    • What is considered acceptable and meaningful feedback?
  • If applicable, create a rubric or other tool to guide the feedback. For example:
    • Are there specific items the group is looking for to critique?
    • Do the critiques need to be based on evidence or are the critiques based on opinion?
    • Are point values assigned to the critique?
  • Assign students to the a group to begin group critiquing.
Synchronous Distance Learning
  • Create the assignment.
  • Create a set of guidelines for acceptable behavior in the group. For example:
    • What is an acceptable level of participation and how will students be held accountable for their participation?
    • What is considered acceptable and meaningful feedback?
  • If applicable, create a rubric or other tool to guide the feedback. For example:
    • Are there specific items the group is looking for to critique?
    • Do the critiques need to be based on evidence or are the critiques based on opinion?
    • Are point values assigned to the critique?
  • Assign students to the a group to begin group critiquing.
  • To facilitate group critiquing in a synchronous environment the following communication tools may be utilized:
Asynchronous Distance Learning
  • Create the assignment.
  • Create a set of guidelines for acceptable behavior in the group. For example:
    • What is an acceptable level of participation and how will students be held accountable for their participation?
    • What is considered acceptable and meaningful feedback?
  • If applicable, create a rubric or other tool to guide the feedback. For example:
    • Are there specific items the group is looking for to critique?
    • Do the critiques need to be based on evidence or are the critiques based on opinion?
    • Are point values assigned to the critique?
  • Assign students to the a group to begin group critiquing.
  • To facilitate group critiquing in an asynchronous environment the following communication tools may be utilized:

Group Critiques

Where can I learn more? Image of group critiques

For information on tools to help with synchronous Group Critique activities visit:

For information on tools to help with ssynchronous Group Critique activities visit:

For information on similar tools visit:

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