Strategies for Implementing Peer Feedback in Healthcare Education

Peer feedback is often underrated, but can be a valuable source of insight for your students. When students evaluate one another, they learn many critical skills that not only improve their education as a whole, but prepare them for working with patients in a healthcare setting.

Our team of experts has been where you are. Keeping up with course sessions, clinical rotations, and your own student feedback, it can be difficult to make opportunities for peer feedback. That’s where Leo, our enterprise software platform, stands out. With Leo, your students can evaluate one another quickly and easily. Moreover, they can view this feedback immediately, so they can make adjustments in real-time.

Here are a few tips to help implement peer feedback in your program:

• Structure the Feedback: Establish clear guidelines for peer feedback, emphasizing constructive and respectful communication. Encourage students to focus on both positive aspects and areas for improvement, providing specific examples and suggestions. 

Creating predefined templates can help structure feedback and streamline the process for your students. According to students' feedback, having well-defined standardized criteria, such as a rubric, is crucial during peer evaluations. This approach removes some subjectivity from the process and enables students to assess their peers solely based on the performance merits of the individual being evaluated.

Within Leo, both students and faculty members can conveniently access evaluations directly from their calendar. Leo's Eval Portal ensures a smooth experience for viewing, managing, and conducting evaluations for both students and faculty. Moreover, the user-friendly interface allows them to complete evaluations on any device, significantly increasing the likelihood of higher response rates.

• Make Reviews Anonymous and Diverse: Consider anonymous reviews to reduce potential biases and create an open feedback environment. Encourage diverse groups for peer feedback to offer a broader range of perspectives and insights.

These assessments can vary in format, ranging from casual surveys during group work to more comprehensive evaluations that may or may not impact student scores. With any feedback, Leo makes it easy to keep student comments anonymous from each other while remaining accessible to faculty. 

• Encourage Constructive Criticism: A huge part of healthcare professionalism is being able to provide constructive criticism and receive feedback in a receptive manner. Fostering a supportive and respectful atmosphere helps students feel comfortable to provide and receive feedback. Promote a positive tone where feedback highlights strengths and offers suggestions for improvement.

• Use Technology: Implement digital platforms or apps to streamline the review process, making it easier for participants to provide and receive feedback. The right EdTech tool can help you create and assess feedback more efficiently by helping you get the big picture of other related curriculum data.  

While peer evaluations allow students to give each other feedback, it's still important for faculty and course coordinators to review the results. Using tools that provide a summary of the evaluation data simplifies the process. This is where Leo stands out. Leo can send immediate email alerts if students select certain responses. For instance, if students receive extremely poor ratings or if a response indicates the need for immediate action, you can be notified right away when the evaluation is submitted. This prompt feedback allows you to address concerns without waiting until the end of the evaluation period.

Peer feedback can play a pivotal role in shaping your students into competent and compassionate healthcare professionals. The strategies above can help you prepare your students to deliver high-quality care in an increasingly complex healthcare landscape. Contact us today to learn more about how Leo can help make the peer feedback process easier and more beneficial for your students.