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Importance of Peer Responses

Responding to peers in the discussion board is a typical requirement in many Walden courses, and they also serve an important purpose – they allow you to exchange ideas, academically debate, and see topics through the perspectives of other people. However, sharing your writing in a public forum where you’re often asked to debate with individuals you have not yet connected with can be challenging. It can be difficult to know where to begin or how to respond. 

Quick Tips for Peer Responses

Strategies for Writing Peer Responses

It may feel challenging to figure out how to approach multiple peer responses week-to-week. However, you might find it helpful to use a structured approach to help you streamline the process to boost your efficiency, allowing you to focus more on the exchange of ideas.

Use "The Two Threes"

This approach can be broken into two phases (reading and writing) with 3 steps each.

Reading

  1. Read through the entire peer post you’re going to respond to.
  2. If additional resources are cited by your peer, explore those, too.
  3. Re-read the original discussion prompt.

Writing

  1. Address any points of the prompt you considered differently or have a new perspective on to encourage engagement and further the discussion.
  2. Look for any interesting ideas that may have been presented and ask yourself, do I agree or disagree with this statement? If you agree, provide additional information to support your peer's post; if you disagree, say so and be sure you add evidence to explain why.
  3. Ask for clarification on differing ideas or ask additional questions so you can continue learning about your peer's perspective.

For most classes, “The Two Threes” method will help you engage with peer posts and develop a thoughtful response. That said, some response requirements may be different, so always be sure to read the discussion response requirements prior to posting.

Create a Rubric-Based Template

At the start of each course, develop a peer response template in alignment with the course rubrics. Although requirements for peer responses can differ, a template might involve these common elements.

Open your response by thanking your peer for the post and referring to a point they made that you would like to discuss further. For example, you could write:  

“Thank you for the post. You mentioned _________________.”

Find an article that expands on the topic the peer discussed and introduce it in your response. Remember to include an in-text citation and reference list.

“I was interested in this idea, so I searched the library for articles and found the following _____________.”  

Tie in any appropriate additional resources to support your ideas and discuss whether you agree or disagree. Ask a follow-up question if necessary.  

This example template demonstrates interest in the peer’s point of view, introduces additional research on the topic, and keeps the conversation going by sharing additional perspectives and asking questions.  

For some courses, this example template might align well with the rubric and expectations. Again, though, be sure that any template you create aligns with specific requirements in the prompt and rubric – remember, those requirements can change from course to course or even week to week.



Key Takeaways

  • Peer responses should contribute to the learning community for everyone, so they need to be professional and respectful.
  • Expectations for peer responses may vary, so it's essential to review the instructions and rubrics each week before posting.
  • Using a strategy can help you engage effectively and efficiently in discussion boards, allowing you to concentrate on the meaningful exchange of ideas with your peers.

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