Title: The impact of a two-round, mobile peer assessment on learning achievements, critical thinking skills, and meta-cognitive awareness

Authors: Lanqin Zheng; Nian-shing Chen; Xin Li; Ronghuai Huang

Addresses: School of Educational Technology, Faculty of Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China ' Information Management Department, National Sun Yat-sen University, No. 70, Lien Hai Rd., Kaohsiung, Taiwan ' School of Educational Technology, Faculty of Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China ' School of Educational Technology, Faculty of Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China

Abstract: Educators and practitioners recognise peer assessment as an effective educational approach. However, designing the most effective peer assessment activities remains a major concern. In this study, a two-round peer assessment and a series of collaborative learning activities were integrated and implemented. The goals were as follows: help students develop knowledge and skills, review and learn from peers' work, and reflect and revise their own work using mobile phones. A study using pretest/post-test quasi-experimental design was conducted in an undergraduate course for six weeks. A total of 97 undergraduates participated in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to 27 groups of three or four students. The findings revealed that the two-round peer assessment facilitated by mobile phone significantly improved students' learning achievement, critical thinking awareness and skills, and meta-cognitive awareness. The practical implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed in detail.

Keywords: peer assessment; mobile learning; m-learning; collaborative learning; learning achievements; critical thinking; meta-cognitive awareness; mobile phones; cell phones; undergraduate courses; higher education; collaboration.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMLO.2016.079503

International Journal of Mobile Learning and Organisation, 2016 Vol.10 No.4, pp.292 - 306

Received: 24 May 2016
Accepted: 23 Jul 2016

Published online: 29 Sep 2016 *

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