The Art of Feedback

What are students' expectations regarding feedback?

Overcoming the #1 Complaint of Online Students

What are student perceptions of online feedback from instructors? (The Journal of Educators Online, July 2009)

• Study of online graduate students looking at what should be included in effective feedback and how should effective feedback be provided
• Survey based on the Community of Inquiry Framework
• Results revealed five "themes" of effective instructor feedback.

Themes of Effective Instructor Feedback

Source: http://www.thejeo.com/Archives/Volume6Number2/GetzlafetalPaper.pdf

Strategies & tips for leaving feedback

7 Steps for Providing Constructive Online Discussion Feedback Successfully

• Site provides a template for feedback

1. Start with something positive - "You did very well in this week's discussion."
2. State the grade and reason right away - "This week you earned 20/25 points."
3. State the correction as a reminder or recommendation - "Remember, five postings are needed for full participation points."
4. Provide an example or tip to reach the goal - "Here's an example of a solution that earned full points."
5. State your expectation - "In the upcoming weeks, I will be looking for...."
6. Remind them of available help - "Your success is important to me, so please email me when you have questions."
7. End with something motivational - "This was a tough assignment, but you did well overall."

UMUC: Feedback Techniques & Tips

• Site provides examples of different feedback techniques

UMUC: The Art of Feedback Guide

• Site provides tips on improving the tone of your feedback

Giving Feedback that Gets Results

• Site emphasizes the importance of synchronous feedback & peer feedback

Rider University Online eCoaching Tips

• Site provides simple rules regarding feedback

1. Provide feedback early & often
2. Provide feedback when expected
3. Provide rapid response to questions
4. Provide feedback that is personal and formative for learning

Strategies for Providing Feedback from ION

• Site provides general suggestions for providing feedback

Increasing your efficiency when providing feedback

How to Provide Fair & Effective Feedback in Asynchronous Classes

Feedback Strategies for your Online Course

Time Management for Online Instructors

Use the right feedback tool: feedback methods by assignment types

Discussion Board Feedback

• Public feedback via discussion posting
• Private feedback via grade center
• Grading rubric

Tests

• Automate feedback, when possible

Paper Assignments

• Word Track Changes
• Turnitin Comments - including audio
• Camtasia Relay video/audio commentary
• Grading rubric

Group Assignments

• Group tools

Class-wide Feedback

• Post as announcement or in discussion board
• Create a video

Audio Feedback

• Summary of APUS study on audio feedback
  • Students prefer audio feedback over text
• Audio Feedback for ESL students in online course

Peer Feedback

• Using Peer Feedback to Enhance the Quality of Student Online Postings

Grading rubrics

Communicate expectations to students

• Define quality of work for different criteria (originality of thought, development of thought, etc.)
• Help students understand weaknesses & improve future performance
• Reduce grading time

3-Point Discussion Grading Rubric

20-Point Discussion Rubric

Blackboard grading rubrics tool

Creating a new rubric

New rubrics default to three rows and three columns.

1. Type a Name for the Rubric. The name is the title text that identifies the rubric.
2. Enter a description of the rubric to make it easier to associate it to relevant assignments.

Editing the rubric

Note: Prior to editing the rubric in Blackboard, it is recommended that you compose your rubric (using pen/paper/calculator). Doing so will make the editing process much easier.

Make grid correspond with the type of feedback and scoring desired.

1. Click Add Row to add a new criterion at the bottom of the grid.
2. Click Add Column to add a new level of achievement to the grid.
3. Select Show Points to enter a single point value for each Level of Achievement.
4. Select Show Point Range to enter a high and low value to create a point range for each Level of Achievement. Only one option can be selected.
5. Click Edit from the contextual menu of the labels identifying rows and columns to change their names.
6. Enter a point value or range of values for each cell.
7. Enter a description defining the criteria and the associated Level of Achievement.

There is a 1000 character limit for each cell.

Rows and columns can be reordered by clicking the reordering icon.

Copying a Rubric

A best practice if you have similar assignments for your students that will follow the same criteria.

You can keep settings and simply re-name the Rubric.

1. Select the Copy option from the contextual menu.
2. A copy will automatically be created with the name "Copy of" and the name of your rubric.
3. Name can be edited to a new name by selecting Edit from the contextual menu. The Edit Rubric page will allow you to edit all the settings for the Rubric.

Applying a Rubric in the Grade Center

From the Grade Center, Rubrics can be associated to any column.

Rubrics can be viewed from the Grade Center during the grading process or from the Grade Details page within the Grade Center.

Rubrics are not displayed to students and as an Instructor, your interaction is limited to a Read Only copy when viewing the Rubric in the Grade Center or within a grading widget for Blogs, Journals, Wikis, and

Discussion Boards.

1. Access the Grade Center.
2. Find the column you would like to associate your Rubric with. From the contextual menu of that column, select Edit Column Information.
3. Scroll to Add Rubric and select the rubric from your drop down menu.
4. Click Submit.

Applying a Rubric as you set up the Tool

When creating a Discussion Board, Wiki, Journal or blog in Blackboard, you will have the option "Add Rubric" when you establish grading.

1. For example, in creating a Discussion Forum, you will scroll to #3 Forum settings and choose "Grade Discussion Forum".
2. Once grading is enabled the "Associated Rubrics" option will appear.
3. You may use the chevron on the right of the "Add Rubric" button to select your rubric.
4. You will then see a pop up asking whether you wish to "assign the rubric's Maximum Points as Points Possible". Click OK.
5. Finally, you will chose whether to show the rubric to your students and click submit.