PeerWise: Getting Started

Getting Started with PeerWise

PeerWise is a tool in which you have students create questions related to a course, and then the students answer, rate, and comment on questions submitted by their peers.

PeerWise data is stored in New Zealand, and is not FIPPA compliant. Do not enter information specific to your course or students such as student names or student numbers. Have students use aliases or nicknames (for example Student1, Student2). Obtain student consent before using PeerWise, and have an alternative activity for those students who do not consent. 

The following tasks are described here:

  1. Getting an account and logging in
  2. Creating your course in PeerWise
  3. Adding student identifiers
  4. Prompting students

Getting an account and logging in

  1. Visit peerwise.cs.auckland.ac.nz/join Links to an external site. and request an instructor account. Account processing is about 24 hours.
  2. Check your email for the PeerWise username and password
  3. Log in at https://peerwise.cs.auckland.ac.nz/at/?ubc_ca Links to an external site.
    peerwise01.png

Creating your course in PeerWise

  1. Once you log in to PeerWise, click the Create New Course button.
  2. In the popup that appears, enter a name for the course.
  3. Click the preview new course button
  4. Summary details of the new course appear. When ready, click Yes, create the course. You will be returned to the Home Menu, where you will now see this new course listed under pending courses.

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Adding student identifiers

  • Students need a personalized student identifier to access your course, and for you to track their performance. Make a list of student identifiers to assign to your students along with the corresponding students real names. For example, Student01 = Jane Doe, Student02 = Sam Smith.
  • If students have used PeerWise before in another course, obtain that student identifier from them.
  • Note: You do not have to fill in this information right away. You can return to this page and add the student identifier information or edit the list of identifiers whenever you like.
  1. After creating your course, in the Home Page, click the red Upload Identifier List button.
  2. The manage student identifiers page opens. Copy and paste the student identifiers into the textbox provided.
  3. Write down the Course ID that is displayed for your new course.
    peerwise03.png

Prompting students

  1. Below the student identifier list, you can personalize the instructions that are shown to students when they create their account and enter your course ID (such as “enter your student ID#). 
  2. When finished with the instructions for students, click Update identifier list and prompt.
  3. Email students with the course ID, their unique student identifier, and instructions for creating their PeerWise account.

 

To learn more about  contact ctl.helpdesk@ubc.ca.

UBC Okanagan Centre for Teaching and Learning Peerwise Directory

Updated January 2021