Teaching Students to Use Feedback
Many professors struggle with how to get their students to use the feedback they've been given to improve.
When my students come to grade conference with me I tell them they need to bring a copy (hard or electronic) of their piece. They also need to be able to answer what grade they think the piece deserves and why. Finally, they need to have something to take notes on the feedback they receive. This is step one.
I have made the feedback part of the process.
When I grade conference with them, I always ask if there's anything they want me to know before I read, or anything they want specific feedback on (this is something I teach them to ask for in workshopping and peer editing as well).
When I give them feedback I use the sandwich method:
- I really liked...
- One suggestion I have for improvement is...
- Or As a reader one thing I was confused about was...
- One of the strengths of your writing is...
Second, I integrate USING and REFLECTING on this feedback part of the process as well.
As their exit ticket they had to turn in a short write up. It needed to include:
- What feedback they received
- How it was helpful
- How they will apply it in the future
They turn these in, and I read them. This formative assessment only.
On the next assignment, I will ask them to answer HOW they forwarded/transferred the feedback they received on the last assignment.
The key takeaway is that if you want students to read and USE the feedback you give then you have to create ways for this to happen, specific structures and class activities that allow them time to process and reflect on this.
No comments:
Post a Comment