User:Amandasykes

Why is Feedback Important?

By: Amanda Sykes

ECI 301 Dwight W. Allen September 19, 2006

Outline

I.	What are the types of feedback? A.	 Positive B.	Negative II. What are the characteristics of effective feedback A.	 Focused on Specifics B.	Nonjudgmental C.	Timely D.	Objective E.	Limited F.	Expected III. Who does feedback benefit A.	 Student B.	Teacher IV. How does it benefit the student A.	 Allows them to know what area they are weak in B.	Lets them know that they are doing well and on track V.	How does it benefit the teacher A.	Allows them to plan their schedule B.	Helps them to know what areas need more work in

Feedback is what causes a person to react to a situation. There are two major types of feedback. There is positive feedback and there is negative feedback. Positive feedback encourages a person to continue doing what they are doing. It signifies that something good has been done and to keep it up. On the other hand negative feedback has the opposite effect. Negative feedback lets the person know that they need to stop what they are doing and rethink their actions. Feedback is used in education to let student know when they are doing something right or when they are doing something wrong. Depending on the feedback that the student receives from the teacher lets them know if they are approaching a situation correctly or not. Feedback can be a very positive thing in education if used correctly. When a student feels that they are getting positive feedback this inspires a positive emotion. This makes them work harder and want to do better. On the other hand if a student feels they have been given negative feedback then their response is most likely to be a negative one. They may feel like a failure and feel they can’t do it right so they are just not going to do it at all (Waugh, C.E. & Frederickson, B.L.). There are ways to make even negative feedback positive. This is called effective feedback (Carma Bylund Ph.D). To make it effective it depends on how a teacher goes about it. Effective feedback can be given in various ways. Several characteristics of effective feedback are to be focused on specifics. Instead of being vague and saying something like, “You seem to be slacking here lately”, get straight to the point and tell them exactly what is wrong like, “Your math grades have been going down lately. Is there anything in particular that you are having trouble with?” This lets the student know exactly what area they are having trouble in. If you don’t point out specifics they may feel like they are a failure in everything and aren’t doing good in any subject which can make the situation worse than what it is. Another characteristic is to be nonjudgmental. When you talk with a student talk to them calmly and avoid pointing out flaws. Instead make suggestions which are helpful and beneficial. Another characteristic is to be timely. Make sure when you are giving feedback to do it while you are still working on that area. If you wait until after that subject is finished then it is most likely it will not do the student any good. When you are giving feedback you should also be careful about not doing it publicly. You should do it in a timely matter but make sure to set aside time that you can spend one on one time with the student to discuss the matter. Another characteristic is to be objective. Don’t assume that a student just doesn’t care about something because they aren’t doing well in it. A student may be having trouble and actually trying. So don’t make assumptions until after you talk to the student. Another characteristic is to be limited on your topics you are discussing. Don’t overload a student with all kinds of things they are doing wrong. Instead try and focus on what areas they need the most and maybe set up another meeting if they are having trouble in other areas as well. Another important characteristic is for feedback to be expected. Let your students know up front that there will be feedback given on a regular basis. This allows them to know exactly how they are doing. This way if they are doing poorly it can be caught early on and if they are doing great they need to know that also (Carma Bylund Ph.D). There can be different ways of delivering the feedback. A student can choose to have the feedback delivered face to face or through email on the computer. It has been studied an proven that usually if a student picks to have it delivered through the computer instead of face to face they are usually more lost and have more anxiety over the assignment. Usually face to face interaction is the best way because this allows for the student to ask any questions that have and receive immediate feedback. The student usually asks more questions face to face than they would over the computer. Most of the time if it is delivered via computer it is not paid much attention to (Matsumura, Shoichi, Hann, George). When you collaborate effective feedback into a K-12 classroom it allows for a better learning experience. It allows the students to concentrate on learning more than being worried about whether they are doing the assignment right or not. It helps to keep their minds focused on the subject at hand instead of on whether or not they did good on last week’s test because they will already know and know what they did wrong and what they need to work on to fix it (Wainwright, Camille, Morrell, Patricia D., Flick, Harry). When you give effective feedback it not only allows the student to assess their own work it allows the teacher to assess how well they are teaching the material. If a teacher is getting a lot of bad results on a test then maybe they did not go over the material well enough, whereas if there are a lot of good grades then it means that the teacher has done well. It also helps the teacher to plan their schedule. There may be certain areas that students need more help in so it may require more activities and more time spent on one are than on another (Marianne G. Handler, Ann S. Dana). If feedback is done correctly than it can make for a very good learning experience for both the student and the teacher. It can help the teacher deliver what materials need to be delivered and the student to work harder in the areas that they are weak at. With student and teacher both working together you can get the most out of the class. This is why feedback is needed in a classroom, because it is a very beneficial learning tool. --Amandasykes 21:08, 19 September 2006 (UTC)--Amandasykes 21:08, 19 September 2006 (UTC)--Amandasykes 21:08, 19 September 2006 (UTC)--Amandasykes 21:08, 19 September 2006 (UTC)--Amandasykes 21:08, 19 September 2006 (UTC)--Amandasykes 21:08, 19 September 2006 (UTC)Sidebar

The little boy wasn't getting good marks in school. One day he made the teacher quite surprised. He tapped her on the shoulder and said ..."I don't want to scare you, but my daddy says if I don't get better grades, somebody is going to get a spanking." Submitted by Sparkegrl http://www.butlerwebs.com/jokes.teachers.htm

Works Cited

Bylund, Carma Ph.D, Giving Feedback. Retrieved on September 19, 2006 from Columbia University Web site http://library.cpmc.columbia.edu/cere/web/ACGME/doc/Giving_Feedback.pdf

Handler, Marianne G. & Dana, Ann S. Hypermedia as a Student Tool: A Guide for Teachers. 1998, Libraries Unlimited, Inc.

Matsumura, Shoichi & Hann, George. (2004) Computer Anxiety and Students' Preferred Feedback Methods in EFL Writing. The Modern Language Journal, 88(3), 403-15. Retrieved September 12, 2006, from http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com.proxy.lib.odu.edu/

Wainwright, Camille, Morrell, Patricia D., & Flick, Larry. (2004) Observation of Reform Teaching in Undergraduate Level Mathematics and Science Courses. School Science and Mathematics. 104(7), 322-35. Retrieved on September 14, 2006, from http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com.proxy.lib.odu.edu/hww

Waugh, C. E. & Fredrickson, B. L. (2006). Nice to Know You: Positive Emotions, self-other overlap, and complex understanding in the formation of a new relationship. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 1 (2), 93-106.

Multiple Choice Questions

1.	 What is feedback that is used in a positive way called? A.	Constructive B.	Effective C.	Negative D.	Positive

2.	What is not a characteristic of effective feedback? A.	Timely B.	Focused C.	Limited D.	Consistent

3.	What is one way that feedback does not help a teacher? A.	Helps plan her teaching schedule B.	Helps her know what areas to spend more time in C.	Helps her plan a field trip D.	Helps her to know if a student is struggling in the class

4.	How can feedback help a student A.	Help them know what area they need to work the most in B.	Help them plan their afternoon at home C.	Help them on the playground D.	Help them with an assignment

5.	What is not a benefit of effective feedback A.	Teacher and student working together to help each other get the most out of the class B.	Being able to plan activities around areas that need a lot of help C.	Being able to plan a picnic D.	The teacher being able to know when a student needs help and getting help immediately

Essay Question What are some benefits from effective feedback and how can you give feedback effectively? Some benefits from effective feedback is that the teacher is able to see what areas that the students are struggling in and give them help by spending more time on the area that needs the most work. It allows for the student to know if they are doing the assignment right or if they need to start over and get the help they need. Some ways to give feedback effectively would be to stay focused on the subject matter when talking to the student. Don’t go off on a different topic. Be nonjudgmental when talking to them. Make sure that you do it in a timely and private manner. Also you should be limited to what your main concern is when you talk to them. Don’t get off onto another subject matter while you are discussing another one. Make another appointment if there is more than one problem. If you go about feedback in this way and make sure to give feedback often it can benefit both the student and the teacher in the classroom.

Answers to Questions 1-5 1.	B 2.	D 3.	C 4.	C 5.	C