Case Study: McMaster University achieves greater student engagement with Kritik

Mayu Nishimura Enhancing Student Engagement with Peer Assessment

McMaster University, a large institution, sought to enhance student engagement and improve learning outcomes in a 140-student Scientific Communication course taught by Dr. Mayu Nishimura. Their challenge was creating a more effective peer assessment process that would save instructors time on grading while providing students with timely, personalized feedback to build a stronger foundation in course concepts.

To address this, the university implemented Kritik's peer assessment platform. The solution involved structuring weekly writing activities with a customized rubric focused on critical thinking and clear writing. Using Kritik enabled a significant increase in student engagement, created a more inclusive learning environment, and drastically reduced grading time for the instructor and TAs, freeing them to focus on coaching. The vendor Kritik facilitated a process where students received ample feedback and developed valuable employable skills in evaluation and constructive critique.

McMaster University

Mayu Nishimura

Assistant Professor of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour