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Collaborative & Peer Editing

What is it? image of collaborative editing

Collaborative/Peer editing refers to a group of students who edit a document together. This can be done simultaneously in a face to face environment or in a distance education environment by using collaborative tools such as IM, Breakout Rooms, Application Sharing, and Whiteboards. Collaborative Editing can also be accomplished asynchronously by using tools such as Discussion Boards, Microsoft Change-Tracking, and E-mail. Collaborative/Peer editing assignments can include projects, papers, presentations and wikis.

Collaborative & Peer Editing

What are the educational uses and benefits? image of collaborative editing

Communication
  • Allows students to co-author papers and projects.
  • In large enrollment classes collaborative editing can allow students to take "community notes" thus improving quality and consistency of note taking.
  • Streamlines the authoring and revision process; promotes coherence, structure, and stability in the document; increases the quality of the content.
  • Increases communication abilities of students by requiring students to negotiate and collaborate.
  • Allows for users to keep and learn from prior versions of the content.
Classroom Environment
  • Establishes a sense of community among learners participating at a distance.

Collaborative & Peer Editing

Can I see an example?

View a brief photo slideshow of Microsoft Change Tracking being utilized as a peer editing tool.

example of peer editing

Collaborative & Peer Editing

How do I get started? image of collaborative editing

Face to Face
  • Create the assignment.
  • Create a set of guidelines for acceptable behavior in the group. For example:
    • Will students be assigned specific jobs?
    • What is an acceptable level of participation and how will students be held accountable for their participation?
  • Create a set of guidelines for assessing student work. For example:
    • Will students be graded on participation?
    • Will students be graded as individuals, as a group, or both?
    • Will the content be evaluated and how?
    • Will the process be evaluated and how?
  • Assign students to a group to begin collaborative/peer editing.
Synchronous Distance Learning
  • Create the assignment.
  • Create a set of guidelines for acceptable behavior in the group. For example:
    • Will students be assigned specific jobs?
    • What is an acceptable level of participation and how will students be held accountable for their participation?
  • Create a set of guidelines for assessing student work. For example:
    • Will students be graded on participation?
    • Will students be graded as individuals, as a group, or both?
    • Will the content be evaluated and how?
    • Will the process be evaluated and how?
  • Assign students to the a group to begin collaborative/peer editing.
  • To facilitate collaborative/peer editing 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:
    • Will students be assigned specific jobs?
    • What is an acceptable level of participation and how will students be held accountable for their participation?
  • Create a set of guidelines for assessing student work. For example:
    • Will students be graded on participation?
    • Will students be graded as individuals, as a group, or both?
    • Will the content be evaluated and how?
    • Will the process be evaluated and how?
  • Assign students to the a group to begin collaborative/peer editing.
  • To facilitate collaborative/peer editing in a synchronous environment the following communication tools may be utilized:

Collaborative & Peer Editing

Where can I learn more? image of collaborative editing

For information on tools to help with synchronous Collaborative/Peer Editing activities visit:

For information on tools to help with asynchronous Collaborative/Peer Editing activities visit:

For information on similar tools visit:

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