Developing Meaningful Feedback
When developing meaningful feedback for assignments/projects integrated into your own online course, what do you believe are the three most important things to remember?
First, the terminal course objectives. Everything must center around the student learning those objectives.
Then a rubric can help make sure students and instructor are on the same page.
Finally, feedback must be provided to help the student improve.
I like receiving feedback from my own instructor feedback. It helps me see what areas that I need to improve
I believe the three most important things to remember are:
1. I like to ask the student(s) to reflect on what areas they feel they did correctly and do they know any areas that they need improvements in.
2. Then go over the areas that the students did correctly as well as incorrectly.
3.I like to give specific feedback, not vague or generic. I like to give examples.
Meaningful feedback is critical in online courses. The in-class experience can provide instant feedback to the student while the online course instructor must make that "extra" effort to provide meaningful feedback. This needs to take the form of:
1. Connect the feedback to the learning objectives
2. Have a positive tone - the last thing you need is students shutting down
3. Individualize the feedback. This provides the student with the knowledge that you have taken note of their contribution and are not providing a generic response.
I always try and start with something positive to "grab" the learner's attention and to set a good tone. Then, I give information about that is individualized. Finally, I tie the feedback to the grading and rubric information that I have always given the student prior to the assessment.
When I am developing meaningful feedback, I always try and include (1) individualized comments, (2) a brief summary of key elements that should be underscored and retained from the assignment, and (3) a clear tie-back to the rubric and scoring for the assignment.
Rubric should be used to improve learning and to ensure all objectives are being met for the assignment. Student should be able to see where improvement is needed.
Daniel,
Feedback is so important that we have to carefully consider how to make it meaningful to students. Thanks for your input.
Carolyn,
I like the solution part, but be careful not to always just give them the solution. Thanks!
Valaire,
Concise and to the point, but nice list. Thanks for your input.
The 3 things to remember when giving feedback:
1. Acknowledge all the positives of the student's work. I try and lead with the positives before giving the critique. Seems obvious but after grading 69 papers...negativity comes quick.
2. "The Critique" I start the negatives by stating, "These are my critiques..." Like in relationships, it's about the issues not the person. I am critiquing the work not Billy-Joe.
3. "Make it Real" I apply the lesson to real world application. The student needs to see the purpose of the school work. I just had a student turn in a project that subpar. The Project involved creating a dietary-guidelined menu for diabetic and high-blood pressure issues, then explain how the menu will positively impact them. When I stated, if the job was going to pay 95K for a M-F prepackaged menu....would they have sent this to the perspective client? The answer was no by the student. A rewrite was asked and given...
When I supply feedback, I try for (1) The Good (2) The Bad (3) A Solution.
The Good is probably obvious, even if it just a comment that the assignment was attempted.
The Bad: what went wrong, even if the whold thing blew up (and in programming this happens all the time!)
The Solution: we both put our heads together to get to the desired results. Yes, both of us. I do not give my students the answers. I guide them in tracking routines to help trace their steps from beginning to end, finding the error in between.
clear expectations
Rubrics that is clear and to the point
clear guidelines
Tonia,
Do you use rubrics? If so, the criteria can be very meaningful. Thanks for your input.
When developing meaningful feedback to my student I ensure that if I am deducted points I explain to them why. I also include the amount of points deducted.
Camila,
Meaningful feedback should be provided to help the students improve. Rubrics can be linked to the objectives as well. Thanks for your input.
Dr. Ruby,
Right on! Everything should be connected to the learning objectives. I like your examples of the feedback as well. Nice job.
Terri,
Yes, start positive and then provide constructive criticism as well so that students can improve. Thanks!
To provide meaningful feedback, the instructor must:
Link the feedback to the rubrics.
Link the feedback to the course learning objectives.
Use a positive tone.
These three elements will contribute to the improvement of the student in the course.
