Peer Evaluation: When a Student Reminded me of a Powerful Lesson

Last Friday marked the conclusion of another trimester for my fundamental project management module, and amidst the usual peer evaluations, one student's action stood out remarkably.

Throughout the trimester, I advocate for a peer evaluation process aimed at ensuring each team member is fully engaged and contributing while curtailing the influence of piggybackers to the best. Therefore, it's common to receive appeals challenging evaluations, backstabbing, or instances of unreasonable generosity in evaluations being exploited. I even learn a lot from these sorts of conversations with the students; However, amidst these narratives, one student's approach was truly commendable.

Out of 26 students, only one evaluated themselves. What's more, they downgraded themselves in certain criteria. When asked why, their response was illuminating:

"You told us to be fair when evaluating our teammates and regardless of friendship or personal discomfort, evaluate their performance to help both them and the team for enhancing the real participation. So, I've just tried to be fair to myself first so that I could be fair to them as well! I haven't contributed to these criteria as expected,..."

That instance brought me great joy, prompting me to request the class to applaud the student. While a round of applause might appear trivial, I did so wholeheartedly. Would you like to know why? Because this moment was more than just a gesture; it embodied a crucial lesson.

Many of us educators assert that we prepare students for the professional world and equip them with the latest knowledge and skills. I firmly believe that besides imparting specialized and technical skills, we must equip students with essential soft skills, productive attitudes, effective work ethics, and appropriate behaviors, all crucial for success and self-fulfillment (Just remembered Simon Sinek's quote: You don't hire for skills, you hire for attitude.)

A round of applause followed, not just for this student's humility but for exemplifying qualities essential for success in the workplace: fairness, integrity, and self-awareness. This student possessed a valuable and essential trait, Hence, it was our moral duty to acknowledge and cultivate these traits alongside technical knowledge.

Let's celebrate moments like these, where students demonstrate the values that transcend beyond the classroom into their professional lives. They are the embodiment of a workforce equipped not just with skills but with the right attitude and behaviors for success.