Peer learning transforms online education by fostering career-ready skills, boosting engagement, and improving learning outcomes, while also saving instructors time and reducing costs for institutions. Learn how instructors across disciplines are successfully eliminating multiple-choice tests in favor of authentic assessment while navigating AI cheating concerns. And discover how research-backed peer learning improves both student outcomes and instructional productivity.

Higher education is under increasing pressure to prepare students with the skills employers demand while doing more with fewer resources. Traditional multiple-choice assessments, while convenient, fall short in cultivating the critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills that define career readiness. At the same time, faculty workloads are strained, AI-cheating concerns loom, and institutions face persistent challenges around cost and scalability.

This session will showcase how peer learning bridges these gaps. Through case studies and research-driven results, we will demonstrate how authentic assessment practices, powered by Peerceptiv, simultaneously improve student outcomes and increase instructional efficiency, while mitigating AI concerns.

For students, peer assessment fosters deeper engagement, accountability, and skill-building. A biology course at the University of Manitoba, for example, leveraged peer review of lab reports to drive an 18% average grade improvement, with at-risk students improving by 35%. In business education, large-scale courses (400+ students) have eliminated multiple-choice testing altogether, instead using project-based assignments with peer assessment to boost engagement and mastery. Students graduate not only with stronger course performance, but also with enhanced abilities to give and receive feedback, key competencies in today’s workplace.

For instructors and institutions, peer learning reduces the burden of grading and streamlines assessment, freeing faculty time for higher-value teaching activities. Peerceptiv’s research-backed algorithms ensure valid and reliable scoring without requiring manual intervention, allowing authentic assignments to scale to any class size. The result is a rare combination: better outcomes for students and greater productivity for faculty, all while lowering the total cost of instruction.

We will also examine the broader pedagogical and equity implications of peer learning. By replacing one-dimensional testing with formative, feedback-rich learning, peer assessment democratizes success and levels the playing field for students from diverse backgrounds. For institutions, the approach offers a scalable, evidence-based strategy to improve retention, completion, and return on investment.

Key Takeaways:
- Career-Ready Skills: Discover how peer learning cultivates essential skills like feedback, collaboration, and critical thinking that prepare students for the workforce.
- Mitigating AI Concerns: Understand how peer learning ensures critical thinking around course content and provides a “human check” on student work, helping maintain academic integrity even in the age of AI.
- Proven Impact: Learn from compelling case studies where peer assessment boosted grades, engagement, and equity in disciplines ranging from biology to business.
- Instructor Productivity: See how Peerceptiv reduces grading burden, allowing faculty to focus on teaching and mentorship instead of paperwork.
- Institutional ROI: Explore how scaling authentic assessment saves universities money while improving student success metrics.
- Actionable Strategies: Walk away with practical insights for implementing peer learning in your own courses or programs, supported by evidence and best practices.
 

Owen Brittan, Ph.D.

VP of Partnership Development at Peerceptiv

Owen is a sales leader whose experience spans K-12 and higher education. His career has concentrated in the education sector and academia, having received a Ph.D. in History from the University of Cambridge. His professional interests center around using digital technology to spread knowledge, expertise, and equitable learning outcomes.