Feedback…

I recently read an article titled Preventing the Feedback Fizzle by Susan M. Brookhart about the importance of quality feedback  as it relates to student learning.

Brookhart notes,  “If students do an assignment simply because you asked them to, that’s compliance.  Compliance is reactive, not proactive. Of course, students should do what you ask, but they won’t learn much unless they understand why you’re asking.”

She articluates the need for the feedback to be:

• Based on a learning target
• Linked to clear criteria
• Timely
• Descriptive of the work, not the student personally
• Clear and specific
• Differentiated
• Followed by the opportunity to digest, understand, and use it

Reading her thoughts I was reminded that this is good information for how to give effective feedback to adults – in addition to students.