Using Peer Reviews in Assignments in ISU Canvas

This article provides instructions on how to assign peer reviews to assignments in ISU Canvas at Idaho State University (ISU).

When creating an assignment in ISU Canvas, you can require students to complete a peer review of another student's work.

• Adding Peer Reviews to Assignments
• Summarizing Canvas Assignments for Peer Review
• Additional Information

1. In Course Navigation, click the Assignments link.
2. Click the Add Assignment button or select an assignment that has already been created.
3. Add details to the assignment such as a description, requirements, grading criteria, etc.
4. Click the Submission Type drop-down menu and select your preferred submission type (i.e. online, on paper, external tool, etc.). Note that the external tool submission type does not support peer review assignments.
5. Peer reviews can be used with group assignments. If you want to create a group assignment, click the This is a Group Assignment checkbox. In group assignments, you also have the option to allow intra-group reviews.
6. Click the Require Peer Reviews checkbox. By default, peer reviews are assigned manually. Note that peer reviews must be manually assigned for On Paper and No Submission assignment types.
   1. If you plan to manually assign the peer reviews, select the Manually Assign Peer Reviews checkbox.
   2. If you automatically assign peer reviews, the menu displays additional options. In the Reviews Per User field, enter the number of reviews each student will be required to complete.
   3. In the Assign Reviews field, use the calendar icon to select a date or manually enter the date for student peer reviews to be assigned. If left blank, Canvas will use the assignment due date.
   4. By default, the Allow intra-group peer reviews checkbox is not selected. which means Canvas will filter out members of the same group when automatically assigning the reviews. To allow Canvas to assign a peer review to a student within the student's own group, select the Allow intra-group peer review checkbox.
7. If you want to make peer reviews anonymous, check the Peer Reviews Appear Anonymously checkbox. Note that Canvas DocViewer does not support anonymous comments, so it cannot be used for annotated feedback on assignments with anonymous peer reviews.
8. If you are ready to publish the assignment, click the Save & Publish button. If you want to create a draft of your assignment and publish it later, click the Save button. 

Note: You can also attach a rubric to the assignment for students to fill out when completing peer reviews. To add a rubric to the assignment, click the add Rubric button.

Process

• Student submit their work directly in the assignment.
• Canvas can automatically assign reviewers, or you can assign reviewers manually.

Benefits

• Provides a clear structure for students.
• Everyone who submits their work is assigned as a peer reviewer.
• Students are notified in their dashboard when they are assigned as a peer reviewer.
• Peer reviews can be set as anonymous.
• Instructors can see the work and the peer review comments together in the SpeedGrader.
• A rubric can be used for peer comments.

Caveats

• If the assignment is set to automatically assign reviewers, late submissions will not be assigned a reviewer.
• To assign a grade to the reviewer, instructors will need to create a No Submission Assignment and assign peer reviewer points in that assignment.

• How do I create a peer review assignment? (external link)
• How do I use peer review assignments in a course? (external link)
• Student Guide: How do I submit a peer review to an assignment? (external link)
• Student Guide: Where can I find my peers' feedback for peer reviewed assignments? (external link)

↑ Back to Top

• Chat with Canvas Support for Faculty (external link)
• Canvas Instructor Guides (external link)
• Visit the ITRC Portal for answers to common questions (external link)
• For additional assistance email AnswersITRC@isu.edu (external link)