Getting Students to Think Beyond the Page Using "Blue Pencil," Drupal-Based Peer-Editing Software

Peer editing is an effective way to teach students to spot errors and to improve their writing. Unfortunately, students often find the task laborious and confusing. In an effort to make peer editing both faster and more fun, I used Drupal (a simple, free html authoring program) to design peer-editing software that I call “Blue Pencil.” This web-based program allows students to upload their work so it can be corrected and critiqued by their peers. It makes the process more fun by allowing students to share their work—and their feelings about it—across the classroom community.