Computer Science
Grade 12
20 min
Peer Review
Peer Review
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1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Evaluate a peer's capstone project using a structured framework focusing on technical merit and presentation clarity.
Formulate constructive, specific, and actionable feedback on system architecture, algorithm choice, and code quality.
Differentiate between subjective stylistic preferences and objective technical critiques.
Apply structured feedback models, such as the 'Sandwich Method', to deliver balanced and effective critiques.
Analyze a peer's project for potential scalability issues, security vulnerabilities, and technical debt.
Assess the overall effectiveness of a technical presentation, including its pacing, clarity, and logical flow.
Ever see a brilliant project fall flat because of a confusing presentation? 🧐 Let's lea...
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Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Constructive CriticismFeedback that is specific, actionable, and focused on the work, not the person. It aims to help the recipient improve rather than simply pointing out flaws.Instead of saying 'Your UI is confusing,' a constructive comment would be: 'The user workflow for creating a new profile requires 5 clicks. Consider combining the 'contact info' and 'address' steps into a single form to make it more intuitive.'
Actionable FeedbackSuggestions that the presenter can directly implement or act upon. It provides a clear path forward.Instead of 'The algorithm part was unclear,' an actionable piece of feedback is: 'Your explanation of the Dijkstra's algorithm implementation would be stronger with a slide vi...
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Core Syntax & Patterns
The Sandwich Method
1. Specific Praise -> 2. Constructive Critique -> 3. General Positive Remark
Use this pattern to deliver feedback in a way that is more receptive to the listener. It cushions the critique with genuine praise, making the feedback feel more balanced and encouraging.
The 'I' Statement Framework
'When you [objective observation], I felt [your reaction/thought], because [reason/impact].'
This framework frames feedback from your personal perspective, which makes it less accusatory. It clearly separates the event from your interpretation, leading to a more collaborative discussion about the impact of a specific choice.
Question-Based Probing
Frame critiques as questions about design choices.
Instead of stating a flaw, ask about...
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Challenging
You are reviewing a project with four issues: 1) An inefficient O(n^2) algorithm for a core feature. 2) Inconsistent variable naming. 3) A critical SQL injection vulnerability. 4) Distracting slide background colors. According to the tutorial's principles, which issue should be the primary focus of your constructive critique?
A.The inefficient O(n^2) algorithm, as performance is key.
B.The critical SQL injection vulnerability, as it represents a major, objective security failure.
C.The inconsistent variable naming, as it impacts code quality and readability.
D.The distracting slide background, as it affects presentation clarity.
Challenging
A reviewer gives the following feedback: 'Your UI is ugly, and the code is a mess. The algorithm is slow. You didn't even use a database correctly.' Which of the following options best reconstructs this feedback into a single, cohesive statement that follows the Sandwich Method and provides specific, actionable advice on the most critical technical issue (the slow algorithm)?
A.It's clear you put a lot of effort into building a functional prototype. I noticed that the core feature's response time slows with more data, which suggests the current algorithm might not be scaling. Have you considered exploring an algorithm like A* search, which is often used for this type of pathfinding problem? Overall, it's a really ambitious and impressive project.
B.The project is a good effort. However, your UI, code, algorithm, and database all need significant rework before this is a viable project.
C.The UI design is very creative. The code was hard to follow due to inconsistent styling, and the database queries could be optimized. The main issue is the slow algorithm. You need to fix all of these things. Great job getting it done, though.
D.You need to fix your slow algorithm. A brute-force approach is unacceptable for a capstone project. Once that's done, you can clean up the UI and the code.
Challenging
Alex reviews Beth's project and says, 'I see you built your own authentication system. That's an impressive amount of work. However, this is a complex area prone to vulnerabilities. Have you considered the trade-offs of using a well-vetted library like Auth0? It could improve security and reduce maintenance. The rest of your API design is very clean.' Which combination of best practices from the tutorial is Alex demonstrating?
A.Making it Personal and Vague Feedback.
B.Focusing on Trivial Stylistic Choices and Prescribing a Solution.
C.The 'I' Statement Framework and focusing only on praise.
D.The Sandwich Method, Question-Based Probing, and focusing on a critical technical area (security).
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