Learning is the main purpose of student life. There are numerous ways to learn about a subject, such as course materials, online and offline classrooms, assignments, video tutorials and more. One effective way to learn something is through feedback.
Feedback is the information on the performance of a student or the knowledge they have acquired through learning. In this blog, let us find out the role of feedback in student development and improvement.
Importance of Feedback For Student Growth
The goal of feedback in the student’s learning process is to improve their overall performance – not to put a break on it. A well-directed feedback will propel even dull students to improve their learning and grades.
This type of right feedback will show them a full picture of their achievements and the areas that need a little more attention. It will improve their learning abilities and build self-esteem and confidence.
Types of Feedback
When it comes to feedback, it is bound to vary in different contexts. No one size fits all. There are mainly two types of feedback that are given to students to improve themselves. One is corrective feedback and the other is suggestive feedback. Below, I will discuss them in brief.
Corrective Feedback
Corrective feedback is given when the student’s learning or work closely matches with the learning or assignment expectations of the teacher. The feedback points to the areas where the student achieved the assignment goals along with the areas where improvement is needed, promoting student development and improvement.
A sample scenario in which corrective feedback can be given is when a student addresses aspect ‘A’ of an assignment excellently, but misses to address aspect ‘B’. The teacher can appreciate the student on aspect A while asking them to work on aspect B.
Suggestive Feedback
Suggestive feedback is offered to students to align their work more with the assignment or the learning expectations by providing proper advice. The teacher gives advice on how a student can improve their work while hinting on ideas to expand on.
An example is when the teacher suggests that giving an example of topic A will make the explanation clearer. Or it could be asking the student to add a new section in the assignment explaining the future scope of the topic discussed.
Characteristics of Good Student Feedback
Here, let us explore the characteristics that make up a good student feedback that helps them excel at school.
Focused on Educating the Student
Using the method of starting with a compliment, followed by the feedback and concluding again with another compliment will be both confidence-building and effective.
Delivered in Timely Manner
Giving feedback early on also helps the student correct themselves and implement the correction in their learning on time. This will aid them in mastering the learning material efficiently.
Ensure to give feedback immediately after the learning happens so that the student remembers it as a positive experience. Waiting too long might not help them connect the feedback with the learning.
Have A Targeted Approach
It can be overwhelming for the student to take in too much feedback at once. They will have no idea where to begin and where to prioritize efforts. So, targeting your feedback to the main areas will prove beneficial.
Focus on 2-3 areas of development while sharing feedback. Students can easily prioritize the feedback without any delays, which can speed up the learning process for them and enhance student development and improvement.
Sensitive to Different Student Needs
Classrooms have diverse learners. Each student is different and will have their unique temperament. It is essential to deliver feedback considering their specific needs to ensure proper learning and development.
Some students need direct feedback to motivate them to reach higher levels of learning. Other students might be sensitive and need to be handled gently to prevent discouragement or self-esteem issues.
Suggestions for Giving Effective Feedback
Below are a few strategies to provide efficient and effective feedback to students for their growth and development.
- Be very specific while giving feedback. Sharing feedback like “Good job” doesn’t tell the student what they did right. A comment like “still needs to improve” doesn’t give any idea on what the student has to improve on and what they can do better next time. Provide exact information on their good work as well as their areas of improvement to effectively support student development and improvement.
- Let the students know how the feedback they are receiving will help them progress towards their learning goals.
- In order to improve performance, give feedback to the students immediately instead of waiting for days or weeks together.
- After providing feedback, ask questions that will inspire further thinking by the students.
Conclusion
The best feedback is one that is focused, timely and considers the sensitivity and motivation for learning of the student. By understanding the role of feedback in student development and following the strategies mentioned in the blog, you can help students achieve their learning goals and march ahead confidently.
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