The Art of Giving Honest Student Feedback that Helps them Learn and Grow
One of the most challenging but essential aspects of teaching is providing student feedback that truly helps them develop. Whether in writing, speaking, or project work, feedback shapes a student’s learning journey. It is not just about pointing out mistakes or praising good work; it’s about cultivating a mindset of growth and helping students navigate both their strengths and areas of improvement with clarity and encouragement.
While positive reinforcement is vital, feedback also needs to be honest and constructive. Sugarcoating too much can hinder growth, while being overly critical may dampen motivation. Striking the right balance can be difficult, but it’s essential to teach students how to learn from their experiences, accept constructive criticism, and move forward with confidence.
In this article, we will explore strategies for providing honest feedback that encourages student growth, and offer practical tips for delivering it in a way that builds both skills and resilience.
Understanding the Purpose of Student Feedback
Before diving into how to provide feedback, it’s important to clarify what feedback should achieve. The goal of feedback is not simply to judge or assess but to facilitate learning and growth. It should provide students with the tools they need to improve their performance, build self-awareness, and understand both their strengths and areas of development.
A key component of effective feedback is the concept of feedforward, which means offering suggestions for improvement that can be applied in future tasks. This ensures that feedback is not limited to pointing out mistakes but is also forward-looking and constructive.
Actionable Takeaway:
- Shift the focus from evaluating to coaching. Think of yourself as a guide helping students to develop and refine their skills over time.
Building a Trusting Environment
For students to take feedback on board, they need to trust that their teacher has their best interests at heart. A trusting environment encourages students to view feedback as a learning tool rather than a judgment of their worth or abilities. Establishing trust means creating a classroom where it’s safe to make mistakes, ask questions, and seek help.
One way to foster this environment is through open dialogue and encouraging students to reflect on their own learning. Ask them to self-assess their work before you provide feedback. This makes them more receptive to your insights because they have already engaged in the process of reflection.
Actionable Takeaway:
- Create regular opportunities for self-reflection where students assess their own work and share their thoughts before you give feedback. This will make your comments feel less like an external judgment and more like part of a learning conversation.
Balancing Positive and Constructive Student Feedback
One of the most common dilemmas teachers face is how to strike the balance between praise and constructive criticism. Too much positive feedback, and students might not realise the areas where they need to improve. Too much negative feedback, and they might become discouraged.
Specificity is key here. Rather than vague compliments like “Good job” or general critiques like “This needs improvement,” aim for specific comments that highlight both strengths and areas for development. For example, instead of saying “Your essay is well-written,” you might say, “Your introduction hooks the reader with a compelling argument. Now, let’s focus on how to strengthen your conclusion to leave a lasting impact.”
Actionable Takeaway:
- For every piece of constructive criticism, try to identify a genuine strength to highlight. Use this as a springboard to introduce areas for improvement, ensuring that the student feels supported and empowered to make progress.
Avoiding the “Feedback Sandwich”
A popular method of giving feedback is the “feedback sandwich,” where praise is offered before and after constructive criticism. While this technique can soften the blow of criticism, it often dilutes the message. Students may focus on the praise and miss the constructive part altogether, or the feedback may feel forced or inauthentic.
Instead of the feedback sandwich, consider a more targeted approach. Acknowledge what’s working, explain why it’s effective, and then transition into the area that needs attention. After discussing the area of improvement, provide a clear path forward with specific, actionable steps the student can take to address it.
For example:
- Acknowledge: “Your argument in the second paragraph is very strong because you’ve used evidence effectively.”
- Constructive Feedback: “However, the connection between your thesis and this point isn’t as clear as it could be.”
- Path Forward: “Next time, try to use more explicit language to link your evidence back to your thesis.”
Actionable Takeaway:
- Move away from formulaic feedback structures like the “feedback sandwich” and focus on clear, specific comments that highlight strengths, explain weaknesses, and provide steps for improvement.
Phrasing Feedback Constructively
How you phrase feedback can significantly impact how it is received. Certain phrases can unintentionally discourage or confuse students, while others promote a sense of agency and opportunity. For instance, avoid language that might feel absolute or overly critical, such as “You never” or “This is wrong.” These phrases can shut down a student’s willingness to engage with the feedback.
Instead, use phrases that are focused on growth and future possibilities:
- Avoid: “This is wrong.”
- Use: “This could be improved by…”
- Avoid: “You didn’t follow the instructions.”
- Use: “To better meet the requirements, try to…”
- Avoid: “You need to work harder.”
- Use: “Let’s focus on a strategy to help you improve this area.”
By focusing on possibilities for improvement rather than simply pointing out errors, you make feedback a part of the learning process rather than a final judgment.
Actionable Takeaway:
- Practice reframing negative feedback as opportunities for growth. Use language that is positive, actionable, and forward-thinking.
Timing and Context Matter
When and how student feedback is delivered is just as important as what is said. Feedback that is too delayed loses its effectiveness, as students may not remember the specifics of the task or assignment. Conversely, feedback given too hastily, without time for thoughtful reflection, can feel rushed or superficial.
Consider the timing and context:
- Immediate feedback is often best for minor corrections or positive reinforcement, such as during class discussions.
- Delayed feedback that is more thorough and reflective works well for larger projects or written assignments where deeper thinking is required.
Also, consider the mode of delivery. Some students respond well to verbal feedback in one-on-one conversations, while others might benefit from written comments that they can reflect on at their own pace.
Actionable Takeaway:
- Tailor the timing and delivery of feedback to the nature of the task and the needs of the student. For significant assignments, provide in-depth written feedback after the student has had a chance to reflect, but don’t shy away from giving immediate verbal feedback during lessons.
Encouraging a Growth Mindset Through Feedback
Carol Dweck’s research on growth mindset has shown that students who believe they can improve through effort are more likely to embrace challenges and persist in the face of setbacks. Feedback plays a crucial role in fostering this mindset.
Avoid praising students solely for their intelligence or talent, which can lead them to associate success with fixed traits. Instead, focus on effort, strategies, and progress. Praise students for their persistence, creativity, and willingness to learn from mistakes.
For example:
- Instead of saying, “You’re so smart,” you might say, “I’m really impressed by the effort you put into solving that problem.”
- Instead of “You’re a natural writer,” try, “Your writing has improved so much because you’ve worked hard on incorporating feedback.”
By focusing on effort and improvement, you help students see that they are in control of their learning and that success is a product of dedication, not inherent ability.
Actionable Takeaway:
- Use feedback to reinforce a growth mindset. Focus on effort, strategies, and progress rather than talent or intelligence. Help students see mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow.
Creating a Culture of Feedback
Finally, to make feedback an integral part of learning, it’s important to build a classroom culture that embraces feedback. This means normalizing feedback as a regular, positive part of the learning process.
Encourage peer feedback as well. When students give feedback to each other, they develop critical thinking and reflective skills that are essential for learning. Teach them how to give constructive feedback by modeling it yourself and guiding them through structured feedback sessions.
Creating a culture of feedback also means being open to receiving feedback from students. By demonstrating that you, too, are open to learning and improving, you model the type of growth mindset you want to instill in them.
Actionable Takeaway:
- Normalize feedback as a part of everyday classroom life. Create opportunities for peer feedback and model how to give constructive comments. Encourage students to view feedback as a valuable learning tool, not a judgment.
Top 5 Digital Tools for Providing Feedback to Students
- Why it’s Useful: Google Classroom allows teachers to provide both private and group feedback seamlessly. It integrates with other Google tools like Google Docs, Slides, and Forms, making it easy to leave detailed, in-context comments on students’ work.
- Example of Use: A teacher assigns a writing task in Google Docs. As students submit their work, the teacher can highlight specific sentences or sections and add comments directly on the document, providing detailed feedback on grammar, structure, or content. Teachers can also give summary feedback on the assignment page and return graded work to students digitally.
- Why it’s Useful: Turnitin is not just a plagiarism checker but also a powerful tool for providing detailed, constructive feedback. Its Feedback Studio feature allows teachers to leave in-line comments, use rubrics, and provide voice feedback, all while checking for originality.
- Example of Use: A teacher reviewing an essay in Turnitin can highlight specific areas of concern regarding citation style or argument strength, then record a 1-2 minute audio message offering further explanations or suggestions for improvement. The tool also allows teachers to set up quick comments and create rubrics that make grading consistent and efficient.
- Why it’s Useful: OneNote allows for flexible feedback with a variety of content types, including typed comments, audio notes, and even handwritten annotations. It’s particularly useful for students who submit creative or visual work, such as digital art or presentations.
- Example of Use: A teacher can create a shared notebook for each student. As the student adds content—whether it’s notes, assignments, or drawings—the teacher can insert comments in the margins, add voice notes to explain suggestions, or highlight areas that need improvement. For math or science, teachers can handwrite equations and corrections directly into the notebook.
4. Seesaw
- Why it’s Useful: Seesaw is a popular platform for both student engagement and feedback. It allows teachers to provide multi-modal feedback (text, audio, video, and drawing), making it particularly engaging for younger students or visual learners. Seesaw also allows students to reflect on their learning by creating portfolios of their work.
- Example of Use: A teacher can leave a video or voice comment on a student’s project, giving personalized feedback and explaining what could be improved. Teachers can also annotate directly on images or documents uploaded by the student, providing clear, actionable suggestions for improvement.
5. Kaizena
- Why it’s Useful: Kaizena is a feedback tool that integrates with Google Docs and allows teachers to leave audio feedback, insert lessons, and track skills development. It’s particularly effective for giving more nuanced, detailed feedback in a quicker and more personalized manner than typing.
- Example of Use: A teacher reviewing a student’s essay can leave voice notes to explain complex feedback more clearly or to encourage the student in a more personal, motivating way. For example, the teacher can record a note praising the student’s strong thesis, then guide them on how to better integrate evidence in future paragraphs.
These tools not only streamline the feedback process but also allow for more varied, personalized, and timely feedback. By leveraging features like audio comments, rubrics, and in-line annotations, teachers can offer more meaningful and actionable suggestions that students can readily apply.
Conclusion
Providing honest feedback is a delicate balancing act that requires thought, strategy, and empathy. When done well, feedback has the power to motivate students, foster a growth mindset, and equip them with the tools they need to improve. By being specific, timely, and constructive, and by framing feedback as part of an ongoing learning process, teachers can help students learn from both their successes and challenges.
Remember, the ultimate goal of feedback is not just to point out what is right or wrong, but to guide students in becoming reflective, resilient learners who are capable of continuous improvement. By creating a trusting