Heather,
All good points. I think feedback can provide an opportunity for encouragement as well, and that tends to help build trust and credibility.
Barry Westling
Timely grading and progress reports serve as a motivator and help students to know where they stand and whether or not they need to put in more effort. It also helps me as an instructor to know how I am doing and to adjust my teaching. Getting exams graded in a timely manner also shows the students that I respect them and care about their learning.
Laura,
This sounds terrific. With input and specific direction as you describe, students should be able to make realistic choices about their study and engagement in the program.
Barry Westling
It is important for students to have a clear idea of how they are progressing in the class. Evaluations, quizzes, and exams also give the students feedback on areas that they need to improve.
Our program also has a class that involves hands-on skills and the students demonstrate competency in the skills. The competency forms communicate to the students their readiness to move to the next level.
Andrea,
I also still like to personalize grade information. I can add my inflection, advice and encouragement.
Barry Westling
It is important to keep students informed of their status in the course because they can see if they are doing well and what areas do they need to concentrate in.
Students both want and deserve to know where the stand in class. It is therefore imperative for an instructor to keep a gradebook updated before every class session. This is simple to do using an electronic gradebook.
Ehtisham,
Yeah, and students need a strategy. Without regular input or feedback from the instructor, students may drift away from the right course of study and achieving the desired learning outcomes.
Barry Westling
So that student know where he or she is standing in terms of particular course/material. Student can plan and establish strategy to move on.
David,
Many factors are involved. For a class that meets every day, a week should not go by that students are given some sort of feedback. The real answer is often enough so that students have an opportunity to understand their progress and have time enough to make corrections in their study habits, preparation, or assistance with remediation.
Barry Westling
Keeping students informed adds to there kenetic follow going forward in the Phase. How offen would you sugguest doing this?
Jeff,
Right, and without feedback that's current, action could possibly be misdirected or diminished in scope.
Barry Westling
They will have a greater ability to act on a perceived problem if they know the running grade.
Dave,
Yeah, grades are so important to students, for some, a reflection of their personal worth and self esteem. While not accurate, instructors should recognize that it exists, and do all we can to inform, encourage, support and advise.
Barry Westling
I believe it is important that they know how they are doing in the course for them selves, not in comparison to others. Good grades are what students should aspire to, if uninformed they may not try hard enough. There must be a goal to attain for there own satisfaction.
Robin,
I think when students have immediate access to grades, and are informed regularly about their performance, they know where and what needs improvement, almost as an edge. This frequent status sharing ought to be one primary focus of the instructor.
Barry Westling
Students need to know what to expect and how they are doing. My schools have online resources for them, so students can always know their status. Also, it keeps end of term grading manageable.
Cenek,
Yes, sharing grade information is a vital map for students to acquire feedback.
Barry Westling
Students need to know their progress in class.
Kerry ,
Yes, it's only a few students who are not interested in their grades. So it's a valuable method to improve trust and confidence in the instructor by doing all we can to state when grades will be posted, and then assure that we stick to that. Unfortunately, while everyone wants the good grades, not everyone is willing buckle down to do the work that legitimately earns those grades. Nonetheless, we need to do our part.
Barry Westling
