Learning and teaching

Anonymous marking

The need for anonymous marking is linked to the importance of ensuring fairness and equality for all students. Lack of appropriate procedures "leaves universities susceptible to prejudice and perception of prejudice"(NUS). It is, therefore, one step (amongst many) towards ensuring that every student is treated fairly, improving students' confidence in assessment at their institutions.

Anonymous marking at Greenwich

The 2014 Feedback and Assessment policy states:

"With the exception of assessments involving a necessary process of face-to-face involvement and feedback where anonymity is not practicable or appropriate (for example, where design portfolios, films, models evaluated in 'crits', artefacts, staging or clinical practice are involved), assessments must be marked anonymously. "

This means that in order to comply with university policy, the identity of the student must be concealed from the marker. When it comes to written work, this means that a student's name has to be replaced by a number or a barcode. If work is submitted online, the anonymous marking feature should be enabled in Turnitin.

While the university has a policy to mark anonymously, this does not mean that feedback has to be given in an impersonal style. Using phrases such as "I really liked how you answered this question," "To improve your answer you need to consider only the forces which..." refer to the student as a person, without using their name. 

It also does not mean that ipsative feedback (based on students' progress, personal best) is impossible. Feedback still can be discussed during tutorials or one to one meetings.