How do you use formative assessment to give better feedback?

1 Align feedback with learning goals

Feedback should be aligned with the intended learning outcomes of the course, unit, or lesson. This means that feedback should focus on what students are expected to know, understand, and do, and how well they are achieving those goals. Feedback should also be specific, clear, and actionable, so that students know what they have done well, what they need to improve, and how to do it.

2 Use a variety of feedback methods

Feedback can be delivered in different ways, such as oral, written, visual, peer, self, or automated. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, depending on the context, purpose, and audience of the feedback. For example, oral feedback can be more immediate, personal, and interactive, but it can also be more difficult to remember, document, and act on. Written feedback can be more detailed, structured, and permanent, but it can also be more time-consuming, impersonal, and overwhelming. The key is to use a mix of feedback methods that suit your learning objectives, teaching style, and student needs.

3 Involve students in the feedback process

Feedback is not a one-way communication from the teacher to the student. It is a dialogue that involves both parties in a collaborative and reflective process. To make feedback more effective, you should involve students in setting feedback criteria, generating feedback questions, seeking feedback from multiple sources, interpreting feedback, and applying feedback to their learning. By doing so, you can help students develop their self-regulation, metacognition, and critical thinking skills.

4 Monitor and adjust feedback

Feedback is not a one-off event. It is a continuous cycle that requires monitoring and adjusting based on the feedback data. You should regularly check the quality, quantity, and impact of your feedback, and seek feedback from your students on how they perceive and use your feedback. You should also adjust your feedback strategies according to the changing needs and preferences of your students, and the evolving goals and expectations of the course. By doing so, you can ensure that your feedback is relevant, meaningful, and supportive for your students.

5 Celebrate feedback

Feedback can sometimes be perceived as negative, threatening, or demoralizing by students. To overcome this, you should celebrate feedback as a positive and valuable opportunity for learning and growth. You should create a feedback-friendly culture in your classroom, where feedback is welcomed, appreciated, and acted upon by both teachers and students. You should also acknowledge and reward your students for their efforts, achievements, and improvements based on feedback. By doing so, you can foster a feedback mindset that embraces feedback as a tool for learning and development.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?