Feedback in teaching & learning forms a significant factor in students’ outcomes. Despite being a well-researched topic, to get this “right”, is every educator’s constant struggle and dream.
Whether you are an expert teacher or an ECT, it’s important to revisit this topic, to ensure that your practice is research-led, and also to revisit your current strategies.
Adopt and implement the strategies that match your teaching style.
Five Strategies for Delivering Effective Feedback
To maximise the impact of feedback, educators should consider the following strategies:
1. Be Specific and Clear
Vague feedback can be confusing and unhelpful. Instead, provide specific, actionable comments that clearly articulate what the student did well and what needs improvement.
For example, rather than saying, "Good job," you might say, "Your answer is strong because it presents your argument."
2. Focus on the Task, Not the Person
Feedback should be centred on the student's work rather than their character or abilities. This approach helps maintain a positive learning environment and encourages a growth mindset.
For instance, instead of saying, "You are not good at calculation questions," say, "You made some errors in your calculations. Let's review them together."
3. Provide Timely Feedback
The effectiveness of feedback diminishes over time. Aim to provide feedback as soon as possible after the task is completed. Timely feedback helps students connect their actions and the outcomes, facilitating better learning.
This blog by Dr Niki Kaiser is specific to science classrooms and discusses applying the key principles of immediate feedback to science teaching.
4. Ensure students respond to feedback
This is what makes the feedback meaningful to students. But it's tricky to achieve when teaching a class of 30 students. However, when students don’t act upon the feedback they receive, there is a huge potential for missed learning.
This article written by Harry Fletcher, provides strategies that teachers can use to ensure that students act on the feedback they receive.
5. Encourage a Dialogue
Feedback should not be a one-way street. Encourage students to ask questions, seek clarification, and engage in discussions about their work. This interactive approach helps students take ownership of their learning and fosters a deeper understanding of the material.
This blog by Kate Jones suggests strategies to convert feedback into actionable instructions for students, making it more effective.
Conclusion
Feedback is a cornerstone of effective teaching and learning. Educators can guide student learning, promote self-reflection, and build confidence by delivering specific, timely, and balanced feedback. Creating a classroom culture that values and actively seeks feedback can transform the educational experience, leading to deeper learning and continuous improvement for students and teachers.
Further reading:
https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/education-evidence/guidance-reports/feedback/
https://evidencebased.education/actionable-feedback/
https://d2tic4wvo1iusb.cloudfront.net/production/eef-guidance-reports/feedback/EEF_Feedback_Recommendations_Poster.pdf?v=1722446770
https://d2tic4wvo1iusb.cloudfront.net/production/eef-guidance-reports/feedback/Effective_Feedback_Task__Subject_and_Self-regulation_Strategies.pdf?v=1722515211
https://evidenceforlearning.org.au/news/putting-evidence-to-work-in-stem-feedback
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