This TIP will help to raise your awareness of the importance and type of feedback expected by students.
The Power of Feedback
Providing and receiving feedback requires significant skill by both teachers and students.
Feedback can be one of the most powerful influences on learning and achievement, but the way it is delivered can make its impact either positive or negative. An ability to answer and assist in identifying the gaps to the following student questions is one of the major aims of the educative process: "How am I going?" relative to "Where am I going?" and providing guidance or direction for "Where to next?" (Hattie and Timperley, 2007).
When feedback is combined with effective instruction, it provides a powerful and enhanced learning environment.
To be effective in providing and receiving feedback you need:
- To develop high proficiency in developing engaging and rich learning opportunities
- Show a willingness to encourage self-regulation
- Deal with the complexities of multiple judgments
- Develop a deep understanding of the subject matter so as to be ready to provide feedback
- Demonstrate the relationships between tasks, ideas and outcomes
- Be approachable, responsive and engaging.
NOTE: Content is adapted from Source: Hattie, J. and Timperley, H (2007). The Power of Feedback, Review of Educational Research, 77(1), 81-112.
Click here for a link to the article.
Whilst you watch the video, consider the following questions:
Basic Questions:
- Based on students’ comment, describe what students like and dislike about the feedback they are receiving?
- How can you increase the effectiveness of the feedback you give your students?
- Why do you think feedback could be the most significant factor influencing student achievement?
Extended Questions:
- Discuss the advantages of feedback focused on model answer or on general tendencies, and focused on individual student's work.
- When would verbal feedback be more effective than written feedback?
- In what important ways is group feedback more valuable than one-on-one feedback?
- Discuss the pros and cons of the following types of feedback:
- Grading and marking
- Annotated individual scripts
- Using comment sheets
- Providing model answer to test and essay questions
- Responding to questions and oral contributions to class
- Individual student consultations
- Peer feedback
- Choice of feedback
- Feedback on final examinations
- Online feedback