Giving Feedback:
Tell It Like It Is?
“…we need to clarify the purpose and expected
outcomes of the tasks we design for students, and
give them specific, clear and constructive feedback,
and the chance to use that feedback to improve
their own work.”
- Ruth Sutton, 2000
So…What Is Feedback?
Feedback is…
“…direct, usable information to the learner on
his/her current performance in relation to a
target performance so that the learner can
self-assess and make improvements.”
-Research for Better Teaching
Why Is Feedback Important?
Key Research Findings
 It is an indispensable
component of instruction
 It promotes student learning,
self-assessment, and selfreflection
 It improves teaching practices
1
Research Findings on Feedback
“Academic feedback is more strongly
and consistently related to
achievement than any other teaching
behavior…
…this relationship is consistent
regardless of grade, socioeconomic
status, race, gender, or school
setting.”
-Teaching from a Research Knowledge Base
Bellon Jerry, Elner Bellon, and Mary Ann Blank
When To Give Feedback?
B
A
Formative Assessment
+
Ongoing Feedback
What are the Types of Feedback?
Informal
Formal
Direct
Indirect
Teacher
Peer
2
Characteristics of Effective Feedback
Timel
y
 Specific
Characteristics of Effective
Feedback, continued
 Frequent
 Respectful
 Instructiona
l
Feedback: The Messages It Sends
Raising the Bar: Believing & Achieving
This is
important!
You can do it!
3
Feedback: The Messages It Sends
Raising the Bar: Believing & Achieving
I won’t give up on
you!
Effective effort
leads
to achievement!
Feedback v. Praise
The purpose of
effective
feedback is to improve
academic performance.
Praise: A Powerful or Dangerous
Tool?
Praise is attributed to effort and
ability.
-Teacher Expectations & Student Achievement
(TESA)
4
Feedback: An Investment or Not?
“The question is not whether we
can afford to invest in every
child; it is whether we can
afford not to.”
-Marian Wright Edelman
Dancers have
mirrors…to provide
them direct
feedback.
Where are the
student mirrors?
-anonymous
5