Peer checking as part of feedback

One method that I learned and used to apply when I was teaching in Bangkok and Abu Dhabi is peer checking. Peer checking is part of feedback that should take place before the teacher checks individual learners’ work. This method lets students have the opportunity to learn from each other, cooperate in one activity, urge them to brainstorm and exchange ideas to solve problem. It also relieves the teacher dominance in the classroom and helps students feel more active and independent. However, the teacher still has a big role during peer checking which is monitoring. The teacher should observe what learners do and help them when possible. Then eventually the teacher can give a whole-class feedback so that all of learners know the best answers. This way the instructions would take three directions: first, from the teacher to the students, this is when he gives them the questions and the instructions. Second, from a student to another, while peer checking. Third, from the students to the teacher when they give him the answers. There could also be a fourth direction from the teacher to all students if he/she corrects or modifies students’ answers. Peer checking increases the number of directions between the teacher and the students and among learners themselves; thus it boosts classroom interaction and communication.