Case Study: University at Buffalo enhances peer learning in computer science with Kritik

Mohammad Zia Enhancing Peer Learning In Computer Science Courses

Professor Mohammad Zia of the University at Buffalo faced the challenge of providing timely, personalized feedback in his large computer science courses, which had over 300 students. His goal was to ensure students clearly grasped complex concepts, but the grading burden made it difficult to return assignments before the class moved on to new material. To address this, he turned to the vendor Kritik and its peer assessment service.

Kritik's solution enabled a structured peer assessment process where students evaluated each other’s work using customizable rubrics. This approach drastically reduced feedback time from over a week to just 3.6 days. The platform also included a system for resolving grading disputes, which were more frequent in his course due to multiple valid solutions to problems. Using Kritik led to deeper student understanding through engagement with diverse solutions and provided the instructor with valuable data-driven insights into student progress.

University at Buffalo

Mohammad Zia

Professor, Data Science and Engineering