Feedback

Feedback is a continuous process of saying to students, ‘Now it’s your turn to tell me’

Seeking feedback from students is a type of formative assessment that is used by teachers to monitor student learning, and evaluate and improve their teaching practice. Feedback from students empowers students by giving them a voice; it builds their confidence and capacity to be motivated, self-sufficient and engaged learners as they share insights and perspectives of their classroom experience.

There are numerous areas where students can be asked to provide their insights. Here are some examples:

Teaching Approach: Are the lessons engaging and interesting?

Clarity of Instruction: Are the directions and concepts easy to follow and understand?

Level of Challenge: Is the learning appropriately challenging?

Self-reflection: Is there time for revision to share thinking and identify errors?

Learning Environment: How comfortable and supportive is the classroom environment?

Use of Resources: Are the learning materials and resources useful and effective?

Wellbeing**:** Is the atmosphere supportive and are there any issues of bullying?

Personal Growth and Development: Is there a perception of progress and improvement?

There are also many ways that students can provide feedback. For example, an exit slip might be completed at the end of a lesson which enables students to answer specific questions related to the content covered during the lesson. Another example is showing a thumb up, thumb halfway, or thumb down as students indicate the clarity and helpfulness of a teacher’s explanation. Small-group conferences and online platforms such as a Google Form are also effective ways for the teacher to seek student feedback.

Feedback from students is important. It opens a dialogue between the student and the teacher and signals to the students that they are valued and supported to take ownership of their learning. It shows students that their experiences, level of understanding, and abilities are acknowledged and will impact the future direction taken by their teacher to manage the classroom and plan and teach lessons.

Furthermore, enabling students to provide their feedback in subjects like mathematics and English, supports students to understand their strengths and next steps for learning. It enables students to see that learning is incremental and keeps them focused on areas for improvement as move forward into future lessons. Feedback also enables teachers to recognise what they do well and seek ways to make changes that increase their impact on learning outcomes.

At Ashfield Public School, seeking feedback from students is a requirement for every teacher and should have a positive effect on the intellectual rigour and social aspect of every classroom. Students should use feedback to improve their learning, and teachers should use feedback to plan lessons, adjust teaching strategies, and maintain a supportive classroom environment.