1020QBT: Benefits and challenges of student feedback

Benefits and challenges of student feedback
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Table of Contents
Title page…………………………………………………………………………………i
Table of contents…………………………………………………………………………1
Abstract……………………………………………………………………….. ………...2
Introduction…………………………………………………………………………..3
Background on the use of student feedback in higher education……………………. 3
Positive impact………………………………………………………………………4
Impact of feedback on learning and performance…………………………….4
Impact of feedback on emotional wellbeing………………………………….4
Impact of feedback on social interactions…………………………………….5
Challenges…………………………………………………………………………….6
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………7
Recommendations on the use of assessment feedback………………………………7
References…………………………………………………………………………….9
Abstract
Instructors’ feedback to a student is beneficial in numerous ways. It enhances the students’ academic performance as well as comprehension of different subject matters. Feedback also plays a significant role in regulating student’s emotions particularly when feedback is given in an appropriate way. Instructors and students also engage in social interactions with the students where the students view the instructors as mentors in addition to being instructors. The greatest challenge for feedback is presented through the mismatch in expectations between the students and the instructors. Instructors often feel that students fail to follow the instructions while the students may sometimes fail to understand what is expected of them. Instructors require engaging different strategies such as offering detailed and specific to enhance students’ capacity to respond to feedback among others.
1.0 Introduction
Students receive feedback from their fellow students as well as from their instructors alike although they attach higher value on feedback from their instructors. Instructors also highly value giving feedback to students and this is evidenced by the consultation time allocated for teacher-student direct interaction. Students appreciate when their instructors provide feedback on time and in a detailed manner. They prefer when the feedback point their strengths and weaknesses as well as offer suggestions on how to revise their work accordingly. This effort is aimed towards equipping students to monitor and evaluate their learning processes throughout higher education (Nicol, 2010).
A mismatch exists in the student and teacher perception on optimal response to feedback given. This is where the teachers may feel that students fail to adequately respond to the feedback given while the students feel that they have responded optimally (Hounsell, McCune, Hounsell, & Litjens, 2008). It is important for students to be on the same wavelength with their teachers because the teachers have the final word about their performance and also because teachers are the authoritative sources of information that boost their comprehension of different subject matters (Zacharias, 2007).
2.0 Background on the use of student feedback in higher education
Research indicates that students that take a deep learning approach appreciate when lecturers provide feedback that challenges them to think critically about different aspects in their learning endeavor. Other students appreciate feedback that helps them find solutions to their inquiries and attain good results in their course work (Rowe, 2011). Students indicate that feedback is also beneficial to them because it gives them a sense of direction when revising which adequately prepares them for their exams (Zacharias, 2007).
The effectiveness of feedback heavily relies on how timely it is and the mode in which it is given. Students are particularly concerned about the personal and emotional aspects associated with feedback because they communicate that the facilitator cares about them. Feedback addresses the feelings of isolation experienced by many international students. It also addresses the need to personalize learning and fulfill emotional needs in classes that have high teacher student ratio (Rowe, 2011). Students are excited when receiving adequate amount feedback as it indicates that the instructor acknowledges the students’ effort (Zacharias, 2007).
3.0 Positive impact
3. Impact of feedback on learning and performance
One of the benefits of feedback is that it helps students to attain better results in their course work. This view is strongly held among students with a shallow learning approach whose main goal is to get answers to their questions. Feedback provides more insight on the course material, expectations as well as the areas in which the student requires to improve on to get to the same wavelength with the lecturer (Rowe, 2011).
` Another benefit of feedback is the fact that students consider it as a way that facilitates their learning. It assists students with a deepe...