diff --git a/controllers/peer.py b/controllers/peer.py
index 64505ce72..826f06a27 100644
--- a/controllers/peer.py
+++ b/controllers/peer.py
@@ -137,6 +137,7 @@ def _get_n_answers(num_answer, div_id, course_name, start_time):
     df = df.dropna(subset=["answer"])
     logger.debug(df.head())
     # FIXME: this breaks for multiple answer mchoice!
+    df = df[df.answer != ""]
     df["answer"] = df.answer.astype("int64")
 
     return df
@@ -248,7 +249,7 @@ def make_pairs():
     response.headers["content-type"] = "application/json"
     div_id = request.vars.div_id
     df = _get_n_answers(1, div_id, auth.user.course_name, request.vars.start_time)
-    group_size = request.vars.get("group_size", 2)
+    group_size = int(request.vars.get("group_size", 2))
     logger.debug(f"STARTING to make pairs for {auth.user.course_name}")
     # answers = list(df.answer.unique())
     correct = df[df.correct == "T"][["sid", "answer"]]
@@ -345,10 +346,10 @@ def publish_message():
 def log_peer_rating():
     response.headers["content-type"] = "application/json"
     current_question = request.vars.div_id
+    peer_sid = request.vars.peer_id
     r = redis.from_url(os.environ.get("REDIS_URI", "redis://redis:6379/0"))
-    peer_sid = r.hget(f"partnerdb_{auth.user.course_name}", auth.user.username)
+    retmess = "Error: no peer to rate"
     if peer_sid:
-        peer_sid = peer_sid.decode("utf8")
         db.useinfo.insert(
             course_id=auth.user.course_name,
             sid=auth.user.username,
@@ -357,6 +358,6 @@ def log_peer_rating():
             act=f"{peer_sid}:{request.vars.rating}",
             timestamp=datetime.datetime.utcnow(),
         )
-        return json.dumps("success")
+        retmess = "success"
 
-    return json.dumps("Error: no peer to rate")
+    return json.dumps(retmess)
diff --git a/static/js/peer.js b/static/js/peer.js
index bcd946b65..92da4b53d 100644
--- a/static/js/peer.js
+++ b/static/js/peer.js
@@ -86,6 +86,11 @@ function connect(event) {
                     let currAnswer = String.fromCharCode(ordA + parseInt(mess.answer));
                     newpeer.innerHTML = `Your partner, ${mess.from}, answered ${currAnswer}`;
                     peerlist.appendChild(newpeer);
+                    let peersel = document.getElementById("peersel");
+                    let peeropt = document.createElement("option");
+                    peeropt.value = mess.from;
+                    peeropt.innerHTML = mess.from;
+                    peersel.appendChild(peeropt);
                     break;
                 default:
                     console.log("unknown control message");
@@ -269,10 +274,12 @@ async function ratePeer(radio) {
         "Content-type": "application/json; charset=utf-8",
         Accept: "application/json",
     });
+    let peerToRate = document.getElementById("peersel").value;
     let eventInfo = {
         sid: eBookConfig.username,
         div_id: currentQuestion,
         event: "ratepeer",
+        peer_id: peerToRate,
         course_id: eBookConfig.course,
         rating: radio.value,
     };
diff --git a/views/peer/dashboard.html b/views/peer/dashboard.html
index 9daee50df..e7588f5e8 100644
--- a/views/peer/dashboard.html
+++ b/views/peer/dashboard.html
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ <h2>Peer Instruction Dashboard</h2>
             </select>
             <br/>
             <button type="button" id="vote1" class="btn btn-info" onclick="warnAndStopVote(event)">Stop Vote 1</button>
-            <button type="button" id="makep" class="btn btn-info" onclick="makePartners(event)">Make Partners</button>
+            <button type="button" id="makep" class="btn btn-info" onclick="makePartners(event)">Enable Discussion</button>
             <button type="button" id="vote2" class="btn btn-info" onclick="startVote2(event)">Start Vote 2</button>
             <button type="button" id="vote3" class="btn btn-info" onclick="warnAndStopVote(event)">Stop Vote 2</button>
             <button type="submit" id="nextq" class="btn btn-info" name="next" value="Next">Next
diff --git a/views/peer/peer_question.html b/views/peer/peer_question.html
index 461dcb5ac..607128910 100644
--- a/views/peer/peer_question.html
+++ b/views/peer/peer_question.html
@@ -41,7 +41,8 @@ <h2>Peer Instruction Question</h2>
         </div>
         <form>
             <div class="form-group">
-                Please provide a confidential rating of your peer's explanation<br />
+                Please provide a confidential rating of <select id="peersel" name="peercel"></select>
+                 peer's explanation<br />
                 <input class="form-check-input" type="radio" name="inlineRadioOptions" id="inlineRadio1" value="poor"
                     onclick="ratePeer(this)">
                 <label class="form-check-label" for="inlineRadio1">Poor</label>