Peer review to increase learning and motivation of students in complementary training subjects

In complementary training subjects of postgraduate studies it is common for students to feel less motivated as the contents of these subjects are far from their professional goals, resulting results in a decrease in academic performance. In order to increase students' learning and motivation of the subject of Basics of Highway Engineering of the Master's Degree in Transportation, Land and Urban Development, the peer review methodology was implemented in the development of case studies, consisting of the resolution of practical cases similar to the problems of the exams. As a result, the average grade of the problems part of the exams increased with respect to the two previous courses by more than 2 points. In addition, the students evaluated very positively the methodology implemented. To this regard, the students indicated that this evaluation method allowed them to achieve a deeper learning, achieving a better retention of the key concepts of the subject. Likewise, they recommended continuing with this methodology in the following courses because, in addition, it does not involve a very tedious work -30 min/case study-.