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The Art of Constructive Feedback: Helping Students Grow
- March 15, 2024
- Posted by: mysophia
- Category: News
As educators, one of the most significant roles is to guide your students toward growth and success. One powerful tool in achieving this is providing constructive feedback. But, let’s be honest, giving feedback can be a bit of an art form, and mastering it can make a world of difference in your students’ learning journey. In this article, we’ll explore the some of the basic ideas of how to provide constructive feedback that truly helps your students grow.
1. Emphasise the Positive: When giving feedback, start with what the student did well. This positive reinforcement sets a supportive tone and boosts their confidence. Instead of jumping straight into what needs improvement, highlight their strengths and achievements. For example, “You did an excellent job explaining your ideas clearly in the first paragraph.”
2. Be Specific: Vague feedback like “Good job!” doesn’t provide much direction. To be truly helpful, pinpoint specific areas where students excel or need improvement. For instance, “Your use of vivid vocabulary in the second paragraph enhanced the reader’s understanding. However, let’s work on organising your ideas a bit better next time. We want everything to flow smoothly from one thought to the next, so everyone can follow along easily.”
3. Focus on Growth, Not Perfection: It’s crucial to communicate that making mistakes is a part of learning. Encourage a growth mindset by emphasising that feedback is meant to help students improve, not to criticise. Phrase your feedback in a way that promotes resilience and continuous learning. For instance, “Your effort in solving the math problems really shows. Let’s work together to find even better ways to solve them.”
4. Use “I” Statements: To avoid sounding judgmental or critical, use “I” statements to express your observations and feelings. For example, say, “I noticed that you struggled with the historical context in your essay, and I believe we can work together to improve this.”
5. Encourage Self-Assessment: Empower students to evaluate their work independently by asking questions like, “What do you think went well in your project, and what could be better?” This helps them develop self-awareness and take ownership of their learning process.
6. Set Clear Goals: Work collaboratively with your students to establish clear, achievable goals based on your feedback. When students have a clear roadmap for improvement, they are more likely to take ownership of their learning journey. For instance, “Let’s aim to enhance your time management skills to complete assignments more efficiently. Here’s how we can do it…”
7. Follow Up: Effective feedback is an ongoing process. Regularly check in with your students to see how they are implementing your suggestions. Offer additional guidance if needed and celebrate their progress. This ongoing support fosters a sense of trust and partnership.
In conclusion, providing constructive feedback is an art that can significantly impact a student’s growth and development. By emphasising the positive, being specific, and fostering a growth mindset, you create an environment where students feel motivated to improve. Remember to use “I” statements, encourage self-assessment, and work together to set clear goals. Finally, maintain a continuous feedback loop to ensure your students are on the path to success. With these strategies, you’ll not only help your students thrive but also become a more effective and caring educator.
Learn more about guiding your students on their unique journey toward excellence through constructive feedback in our courses created by Mike Gershon: “Giving Effective Feedback”, “Using Feedback to Target Learner Effort”, and “Opening Up Success Criteria Through Feedback”.