Optimizing Students’ Engagement through Implementing Peer-Assessment Practice in Iranian Public High School: An Action Research

This study aimed to find the solution for students‘ lack of engagement in classroom. The researchers used peer-assessment (PA) practice in classroom based on small group collaboration. 21 male high school students took part in this research. They were in Grade 10th and had been studied physics and mathematics course in 15th Khordad public high school in Sari, Mazandaran, Iran. To conduct this research, three instruments were used including teacher-made test, students‘ engagement questionnaire, and peer-evaluation observation checklist. The researchers implemented PA practice in their classroom in which participants were divided into seven groups each had three members with different proficiency levels. These groups‘ members were supposed to practice PA on their exams. Also, the students were asked to answer students‘ engagement questionnaire in order to put their idea about PA practice and the teacher observed all the groups‘ members and filled the peer-evaluation observation checklist based on students‘ interactions and participation. The analyses of data showed that, exposing student to the PA significantly enhanced students‘ classroom engagement and improves their English course scores.

Keywords:

Students‘ Engagement , Peer-Assessment Practice , Peer-Evaluation , Participation , and Small Group Collaboration