WEEK 4 - FROM FEEDBACK TO PLANNING

    After reading the articles/ blogs and discussing them in group here are the considerations.

     What is good feedback?

  When we think about the general concept of feedback it is usually unilateral information provided by the teacher to the students about their performance regarding a certain goal. However, this is not necessarily effective feedback, because it doesn’t make sure that the given information is understood and used by the learner to improve the outcome. Students are not engaged in the process since they don’t have the opportunity to make their own judgement and to take action.

    We believe there has to be a new dynamic in the classroom that empowers students and make them the main agents of their learning. In this new perspective, teachers are seen as guides and facilitators. Collaboration and peer learning should also be recognized as a valuable asset.

    In "The Power of Feedback" by Hattie and Timperley (2007), the authors introduce three questions that effective feedback should address:

• • Where am I going? (Feed Up)
  • How am I going? (Feedback)
  • Where to next? (Feed Forward)

Where am I going?

    The learners must be aware of the learning goals and be encouraged to engage in the task planning and criteria definition. The teacher may perfect the task criteria based on the learners’ suggestions.

How am I going?

    The learners should be aware of their strengths, limitations and learning needs and be encouraged to develop self-monitoring skills, in order to reassess their performance continuously.

Where to next?

    At the end of the task, with the information gathered (by teachers, peers or learners themselves) they should understand what they need to change and what to do in order to accomplish the goal.

    So, for us, good feedback is effective feedback that should start and end with the learner. The underlying theme is a commitment to continuous improvement, both for students and educators. When the feedback loop, which involves reflection and adjustment of strategies, is completed, considering that it was done in an informative and constructive manner, we have achieved the so desired “sustainable learning” where the learners have developed critical thinking that will be used not only in the academic world but also throughout their lives.

 

Thank you for your time and attention!