Comment on students’ online work using document commenting tools

Author:
What: Provide on asynchronous student work using commenting tools
Learners use a shared online document to respond in writing to a class assignment, completing their responses within a given time period. Once completed, teachers provide guidance and feedback to each learner on their work, using the online document’s commenting feature or another annotation tool.

Why: Provide Feedback

When learners respond (and you provide feedback) in a shared online document, all learners gain access to their classmates’ work and your comments. Doing this work asynchronously outside of class time makes it possible to have a meaningful discussion of the assignment during synchronous class time.

Evidence-Based Strategies

This routine is supported by the following strategies:

Immediate Feedback Formative Assessment Peer Feedback/Peer Review

How: Google Docs

Create an online document using an application such as Google Docs and type the question(s) or other writing prompt(s) along with instructions (e.g. write your name above your response) in the document’s header. Share the document link with all learners, being sure each learner has the ability to edit the document. As learners respond to the assignment, use the commenting feature to provide feedback on their work.

EdTech Tool Types: Productivity: Documents

WO.7 Create Documents

Provide students with frequent opportunities to work in, create, and format shared documents to build their confidence using word processing software (e.g., Microsoft Word, Google Docs). Focus learners on the format and purpose of the document they used by asking: “What is the benefit of putting information in the header? How did we format this document to keep your responses organized? What other ways could we have organized your responses? How could you tell who a comment was for? Are there other ways to direct a comment? Did you read comments that were not about your work? Why or why not?”

WO.3 Manage Projects Online

Team work on projects can be more efficient when multiple people can work on the same document either at the same time (synchronously) or at different times (asynchronously). To help learners focus on the collaborative nature of a shared document, ask: “What was the benefit of being able to see all your classmates’ work? How many students were working on the document at the same time you were? What, if any, issues were there when students were on the document at the same time? When would it be useful to work on a shared document at work? At home? Why?”