How does peer grading differ from instructor grading?

Peer grading allows students to evaluate each other's work, which is the primary distinction between peer grading and instructor grading. This method fosters a collaborative learning environment where students engage more deeply with the material by assessing their peers' submissions. It encourages critical thinking and can enhance the learning process by providing diverse perspectives and feedback among classmates.

Through peer grading, students can also develop their evaluative skills, which are vital in academic and professional contexts. This interactive approach not only helps individuals to refine their own work based on the feedback received but also promotes a sense of community within the learning environment, as students become actively involved in the assessment process.

The other options miss the mark because they either apply broad assumptions about the quality and nature of peer versus instructor grading or downplay the active role students have in peer assessment. Peer grading is not inherently more lenient, nor is it automatically less reliable, and it requires significant student involvement, contrasting sharply with the misconception that it does not.