Providing constructive feedback to guide student progress from "summary" of Teaching What You DonÕt Know by Therese Huston
Constructive feedback is a crucial tool for educators to help students improve their understanding and skills. When providing feedback, it is essential to focus on guiding students towards progress rather than simply pointing out their mistakes. This type of feedback should be specific, actionable, and focused on the student's learning goals. One effective approach to providing constructive feedback is the "compliment sandwich" method. This method involves starting with a positive comment or acknowledgment of the student's strengths, followed by constructive criticism, and ending with another positive comment or encouragement. By sandwiching criticism between positive feedback, educators can help students see their mistakes as opportunities for growth rather than failures. Another important aspect of providing constructive feedback is being specific and detailed in your comments. Instead of simply telling students that their work is incorrect, provide specific examples of where they went wrong and offer suggestions for improvement. This specificity can help students understand exactly what they need to do to improve and make progress. Additionally, it is important to be timely in delivering feedback to students. Providing feedback promptly after an assignment or assessment allows students to reflect on their work while it is still fresh in their minds. This can help them make connections between their mistakes and the feedback provided, leading to more effective learning and improvement.- The goal of providing constructive feedback is to guide students towards progress and help them reach their full potential. By focusing on specific, actionable feedback, using the "compliment sandwich" method, and delivering feedback in a timely manner, educators can support students in their learning journey and facilitate their growth and development.
