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?
1. Formal feedback is typically provided in conjunction with a rubric and more detailed, lengthy feedback is developed and feedback must be provided to students to improve learning
2. meaningful feedback supplements and reinforces the learning process
3. specific, detailed feedback is more effective and helpful for students
The three most important things to remember for me would be:
(1) The feedback should be tied to the objectives of the course. When developing a grading rubric, the specifics of the assignment should be included but the rubric should also contain criteria that meets the objectives of the course. Thus when giving feedback, the students understands the overall importance of not just the particular assignment, but the course itself.
(2) Feedback should be positive. And sometimes the student is so far off on the assignment that it is difficult to find anything positive. For discussion board assignments, sometimes the only positive thing I can find is that they participated in the assignment. When grading a task specific assignment in a software class, it is sometimes difficult to say something positive when they have not completed the step correctly or skipped the step. I sometimes have to think a little more about how to give the feedback with some positive spin.
(3) Feedback should be timely. If feedback is given too long after an assignment is completed, then the connection may be lost for the student. It is rather like discipling my dog. If you cannot discipline him at the time he does something, he does not have any idea why he is being punished. When the assignment is fresh in the student's mind, then the feedback makes more sense to them and they can apply what is learned from the assignment to other assignments.
Frances
First, I like to address the student personally, so that the student and I establish of a connection between instructor and student. Next, I address the exact issues that are incorrect in the assignment and provide them with the correct answer (or estimate if the question is mathematical). I also ensure that the rubric is provided with the exact points that the student received, and also include the maximum point level for the section. Lastly, I believe that timely feedback is imperative, especially when accessing mathematical homework calculations. The problems are fresh in the students' minds, and by providing prompt feedback, you allow the student to recall the mistake. Thus, the student can better understand the corrections to the assignment.
Thanks for reading!
Patrice Nybro
Perry,
Positive, personalized feedback is essential for each individual student. I like your spirit of "we." Nice job.
The three most important things I try to provide.
1) Positive reinforcement. Start out with the positives, and give them a lot of information.
2) Explain everything that was in the assignment in detail. I usually start with the assignment, and personalize it.
3) If the student is missing something, explain in detail where they went wrong. Avoid using the term you, and replace it with we. This avoid the accusatory verbage, and makes us both own it.
Perry
Marie,
Sounds like you use your rubrics well and provide appropriate feedback. Keep up the good work.
When giving feedback to my students, I use the rubric that I have created for my course and give partial credit where due. I always start with a positive statement and sometimes pose a question on the discussion board for them to think about. It always relates to the topic at hand. It also gives them an opportunity to improve their discussion board grade as well as encourage communication with their classmates.
Positive feedback is important so the students can lean what I expect from them as well as feel good about what they contribute to the discussion. I believe this encourages more discussion resulting in a better learning environment.
Rick,
Starting with the positive and what the student does well is a good place to begin. Meaningful feedback helps the students improve and in a timely manner. You bring up some very good points. Thanks!
First and foremost, the feeback needs to highlight and focus on what the learner does well. I remember when I began my teachng career and all I focused on with my feedback was what the student did not do correctly. I was always wondering why my students did not look forward to getting any type of feedback back from me. I think we have a responsibility to let the learner know what they did not master or do well, but the focus can be on what was accomplished. When I provide feedback, I begin with a positive comment, share what they could have done better, and end with the connection of what they gained from the current activity and feedback as it will apply to the next assignment.
I think feedback needs to be timely. It is only fair if students have a deadline in which to submit an assignment, I should also have a deadline in a timely manner to provide feedback.
Finally, the feedback has to be consistent with the objectives of the activity or unit. The purpose of feedback and assessment is to let the learner know if he has mastered the objective(s) from what was being completed in the first place.
Shelly,
Meaningful is the key word. Without meaning, what is feedback? Just words. The feedback has to be connected to the learning outcomes and help the students improve. Thanks for your input.
Russell,
Formative and summative assessment should both be utilized. That's for sure. Take what the students are providing back to you and use it to improve the course. You are right on with the meaningful feedback. Without meaning, feedback is nothing. I heard the other day that feedback should be feed forward. ;-)
Meaningful feedback is so important and often contributes to a student's self-confidence and even provides motivation to do well on future assignments.
1. Feedback should correlate with assignment expectations. Students should know the criteria for which they are being graded on. (Should be substantive).
2. Feedback should explain to students where they received or didn't receive points and why. Nothing worse than losing points and not knowing why.
3. Feedback should be positive but also constructive. What was done well? What can be done better next time?
4. I like to link feedback to various course and campus resources that will help with future assignments (i.e. tutoring, learning labs, APA citation resources, library, etc.)
When developing feedback for an online course, these are the three most important things to remember:
Developing effective forms of assessment. Assessment should be formative or summative, including the development of a rubric with specific criteria and consistent objectives.
Encouraging self and peer assessment.
Providing “meaningful†feedback that is frequent, positive, and a variety of ways.
Anthony,
Oh yes, I agree. When feedback is timely and specific enough to help the students improve, it really helps the students improve. Thanks!
I believe specific and detailed feedback is my top choice.
Timely feedback is my second, because if you are not responding in a timely manner a lot of the benefit of the feedback will be wasted.
It must align to the objectives and course goals.
Jonathan,
You are right on with your comments as well. When you provide specific feedback in a timely manner, you help the students improve. Feedback should really be "feed forward." ;-)
Elivett,
Excellent - great words. Appropriate, encouraging, interactive, positive, etc. Thanks!
Dr. Tena B. Crews
The three most important things to meaningful feedback is first timeliness. The work must be returned as soon as possible so the student has time to integrate and correct errors for future assignments.
The second point to make is that feedback should ascertain that the most important core objectives are understood and reinforced. Feedback should be as specific as possible
The third critical component of good feedback is that it be constructive and positive never negative. Feedback that will help the student moving forward in the course.
To give appropriate feedback, utilizing encouragement.
Keep the course projects interactive.
Offer positive reinforcement ehwnever possible.
maryln,
The sandwich method is effective. Our feedback should help the students improve and achieve the learning outcomes. Thanks.
