Toward peer-review software and a rubric application in visual analytics classes: A case study

Abstract

Peer-review software is often used to allow authors to evaluate their code and its technical text content. In education, peer review is a common practice used not only to evaluate the quality of academic research but also to measure students’ engagement in the classroom. In visualization education, numerous researchers have addressed techniques of evaluation; however, such techniques rarely involve students in the evaluation and motivation process, and none have been discussed in the context of visual analytics courses. This study asks how peer-review software designed for student writing may be used in introductory courses to visual analytics at a large state university. To answer this question, this study conducted a questionnaire survey at the School of Information at the University of South Florida in 2016. Reporting on students’ experience during the course, the study reveals that the students supported the implementation of visual peer review as an engagement platform from which to understand visual analytics. Future studies need to address whether a new model and software based on visual analytics will better meet the needs of the students and instructors of visual analytics courses.