Lorna Earl was quoted in Cris Tovani’s excellent book So What Do They Really Know? Assessment That Informs Teaching and Learning (Stenhouse, 2011):
“Feedback that fortifies is a critical part of useful formative assessment. It comes at a time when the learner needs it most to improve performance or product. In the most pragmatic way, feedback helps students find their way back to the process of learning.”
How do you successfully provide feedback that fortifies for your teachers or students?
What I have found most successful in providing feedback is through first listening intentionally. That means providing wait time, paraphrasing what the other person is saying, and asking curious or clarifying questions. This approach is essential before offering data or suggestions; I have to develop trust first before expecting my feedback to improve performance.
Agree, love this - I try to pull myself away from the mindset of I'm there to respond and offer suggestions and move into I'm there to watch, wait, and process to gather information, then take the next steps (trust, meaningful feedback, collaboration). Thanks!
YI love that Matt. Listening intentionally means that we are willing to see whatever the learning experience from the learners eyes and glean all we can from them without judgement. I worry that so often we leap to assumptions based on OUR perspective rather than theirs.
I think this begins by adopting a spirit of curiosity inspired kidwatcher. Becoming a student-centered observer requires time and practice but in my mind it makes us more learner aware and thus allows us to understand how to offer the in-the-moment feedback that fortifies. It also requires us to know that we are making feedback decisions based on those observations so there's no checklist that will tell you what to say or do because our choices rise from those observations.
What I have found most successful in providing feedback is through first listening intentionally. That means providing wait time, paraphrasing what the other person is saying, and asking curious or clarifying questions. This approach is essential before offering data or suggestions; I have to develop trust first before expecting my feedback to improve performance.
Agree, love this - I try to pull myself away from the mindset of I'm there to respond and offer suggestions and move into I'm there to watch, wait, and process to gather information, then take the next steps (trust, meaningful feedback, collaboration). Thanks!
YI love that Matt. Listening intentionally means that we are willing to see whatever the learning experience from the learners eyes and glean all we can from them without judgement. I worry that so often we leap to assumptions based on OUR perspective rather than theirs.
I think this begins by adopting a spirit of curiosity inspired kidwatcher. Becoming a student-centered observer requires time and practice but in my mind it makes us more learner aware and thus allows us to understand how to offer the in-the-moment feedback that fortifies. It also requires us to know that we are making feedback decisions based on those observations so there's no checklist that will tell you what to say or do because our choices rise from those observations.
Very true Mary, no checklist will tell you what to say. Why effective continuous professional learning is so important.