Feedback
With contributions from: Angelica Rodriguez
Giving effective feedback is one of the most important aspects of your role as a tutor. Feedback isn’t just a box to tick at the end of a session - when used in the right way, it can be a powerful tool for growth. Feedback helps students understand their strengths, tackle their weaknesses, and foster a positive, growth-oriented mindset. Whether it’s boosting their confidence or encouraging them to persevere through challenges, your feedback plays a vital role in shaping how they approach learning. Plus, by guiding them towards self-assessment, you’re helping them become more independent and empowered learners!
Why is feedback important?
Feedback plays a crucial role in the learning process. It helps students understand their strengths and areas for improvement, guiding them towards better performance and deeper understanding (University of South Carolina, n.d.). It also promotes a growth mindset, encouraging students to see challenges as opportunities to learn rather than as barriers in their learning journey (MIT, n.d.). Here are some key reasons why feedback is important:
Enhances learning and understanding: Feedback provides students with information about what they did well and where they can improve. This information helps students understand the material more and avoid repeating mistakes (Markovic, 2024).
Builds confidence: Constructive feedback can boost a student’s confidence. When students receive positive reinforcement and constructive criticism, they feel supported and are more likely to engage actively in the learning process (Scott, 2017).
Encourages persistence: Effective feedback encourages students to keep trying even when they face difficulties. It shows them that their efforts are noticed and valued, which can be a powerful motivator (Fishbach and Finkelstein, 2012).
Promotes self-assessment: Feedback helps students develop the ability to assess their own work critically. By understanding the criteria for success and areas of improvement, students can become more independent learners (Andrade and Valtcheva, 2009).
Types of Feedback
There are several types of feedback that tutors can use, each serving a different purpose. Understanding when and how to use each type is key for effective tutoring.
Formative
This type of feedback is given during the learning process. It aims to improve student learning by identifying areas where they need more practice or understanding. Formative feedback is often specific, immediate, and constructive (University of Greenwich, n.d.).
Examples of this could look like:
“Great job on the algebra work! You’ve got the right idea, just remember to show each step clearly, especially when expanding brackets”
“Your lab report is well-structured and informative. Focusing a bit more on detailing the results will enhance your findings more!”
2. Summative
Summative feedback is provided at the end of a learning unit or assessment. It evaluates student performance against a set standard or benchmark. While it is important for grading, it is less effective for immediate learning improvement (University of Greenwich, n.d.).
Examples:
“You scored 75% on the mock exam - well done! You excelled in geometry. A little more practice with trigonometry will really boost your confidence.”
“Your assignment got a 6 - which is a strong effort! Your ideas are compelling, and diving deeper into textual analysis will elevate your writing further.”
3. Descriptive
Descriptive feedback provides detailed information about what a student did well and what needs improvement. It goes beyond simple judgements and offers specific guidance on how to improve (Power School, 2021).
Examples:
“You did a fantastic job solving that problem! Just a quick tip - double checking for minor calculation errors can help with accuracy.”
“Your poem analysis was insightful! Exploring more themes and language devices will really enrich your analysis and make your points shine.”
4. Evaluative
This type of feedback assesses the quality of the student’s work. It often comes in the form of grades or scores and is more judgemental. While it can be useful for summative assessment, it is less effective for promoting learning during the process (Sarin and Cushman, 2023).
Examples:
“Your essay got a 5, good work! Your present strong arguments, and refining your grammar and punctuation will enhance your writing.”
“Your experiment was rated as ‘Good’ - nice job! You demonstrated a solid grasp of the topic, and including more detailed diagrams will add clarity.”
5. Peer
Encouraging students to give feedback to each other can be very beneficial. It promotes a deeper understanding of the material, as students must evaluate their peers’ work critically (University of Oxford, 2024).
Examples:
“I really liked how you explained the steps in your solution! Speaking a bit louder next time will help everyone hear your great insights.”
“Your experiment presentation was clear and easy to follow! Including more visuals can help your process and engage your audience.”
Delivering Effective Feedback
Delivering feedback effectively requires a balance of honesty, sensitivity, and encouragement. Here are some strategies to help you provide feedback that will be the most beneficial to your students:
Be specific and clear: Vague feedback can be confusing and unhelpful. Make sure your feedback is specific and clear, addressing particular aspects of the student’s work. For example, instead of saying “Good job,” you could say, “Your use of evidence in this paragraph is very strong because it directly supports your argument.”
Focus on the process, not just the outcome: While it is important to acknowledge a correct answer, it is equally as important to focus on the process the student used to get there. This helps students understand the reasoning behind their work and encourages them to think critically.
Balance positive and constructive feedback: Always try to balance positive feedback with constructive criticism. Highlight what the student did well before discussing areas of improvement. This approach helps maintain students’ confidence and motivation (Kirtek, 2015), however, it’s important you don’t over praise or over criticise.
Be timely: Feedback is most effective when it is given promptly. Immediate feedback helps students make connections between their actions and the feedback, making it more likely they will remember and apply it (McCarthy, 2016).
Encourage reflection: Encourage students to reflect on the feedback they receive. Ask them to think about what they did well and what they can improve. This reflection helps reinforce the feedback, promotes self-assessment skills (Quinton and Smallbone, 2010) and also helps you plan your sessions.
Use a positive tone: The tone of your feedback can greatly affect how it is received. A positive, encouraging tone can make even critical feedback feel supportive and motivating (Busch, n.d.). For example, instead of saying “This part is wrong”, try “You’ve made a good start, but let’s work on refining this section.” Or instead of “You need to improve your grammar.”, say “Your ideas are strong, and with some improvements on grammar, they will be even clearer.”
Subject-specific feedback
Maths
Maths can be a challenging subject for many students, and effective feedback is crucial in helping them understand complex concepts and improve their problem-solving skills.
Highlight problem-solving strategies: When providing feedback, focus on the methods the student used to solve the problem. Highlighting effective methods and suggesting alternative strategies can help students develop a deeper understanding of the material.
Address common mistakes: Identify common mistakes and misconceptions and be able to explain why they are incorrect. This helps students understand the underlying concepts and avoid making the same errors in the future.
Encourage logical thinking: Maths requires logical thinking and reasoning. Asking students to explain their thought process and providing feedback on their logic and reasoning skills can enhance their critical thinking abilities.
Use visual aids: Visual aids can be particularly helpful in clarifying complex concepts (for example: using boxes or shapes to represent fractions and ratios or diagrams to show probabilities), making your feedback more understandable and engaging.
English
English involves a wide range of skills, including reading comprehension, writing, and critical analysis. Effective feedback can help students improve in all these areas.
Focus on content and structure: When providing feedback on writing tasks, focus on both the content and the structure of the work. By commenting on the clarity of the argument, the organisation of ideas, and the use of evidence, students can refine their writing skills.
Encourage creativity: English is not just about following rules; it is also about creativity. Providing positive feedback on students’ originality and unique perspectives can motivate them to express their ideas more freely.
Provide examples: Use examples to illustrate your feedback. Showing students examples of strong writing and explaining why they are effective helps them understand what good writing looks like and how they can achieve it.
Address grammar and punctuation: While content is important, grammar and punctuation are also crucial for clear communication. Providing feedback on these technical aspects, without overwhelming the student, can help them improve their writing.
Science
Science subjects require a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical skills. Effective feedback can help students understand scientific concepts and develop their experimental skills.
Explain scientific concepts: When providing feedback on science assessments, focus on the understanding of scientific concepts. Explaining any misunderstandings and providing additional information if needed. This can enhance students’ grasp of the material.
Encourage questions: Science is all about exploration. Encourage students to ask questions and think critically about scientific problems. Stimulating students’ curiosity and providing feedback that encourages further investigation can create a deeper interest in the subject.
Comment on practical skills: Practical skills are as important as theoretical knowledge. Providing feedback on lab reports and experiments, focusing on the accuracy of their methods and the validity of their conclusions, can help students develop essential scientific skills.
Use real-life examples: Relating scientific concepts to real-world examples can make your feedback more relevant and engaging, helping students see the practical applications of what they are learning.
Tutor Session feedback
In addition to providing feedback to students, it is essential to gather feedback on your tutoring sessions. This feedback helps you improve your teaching methods and better meet your students’ needs.
Student Feedback
Collecting feedback from your students provides valuable insights into their learning experiences and perception of your tutoring. During feedback week, tutors are required to get formal feedback from their students by having them fill out a ‘Student and Tutor Feedback Form’. By reflecting on the feedback, you can analyse the feedback and identify common themes and areas for improvement by looking for patterns in the responses to understand what is working well and what might need to change.
In addition to formal feedback, informal feedback can be highly valuable. At the end of each session, consider asking your students how they felt about the lesson, what they found most helpful, and if there were any areas they struggled with. Simple questions like “Did this explanation make sense?” or “Is there anything you’d like to go over again next time?” can be very effective in gathering quick, actionable feedback. Verbal feedback gathered in this way can provide immediate insights. Use this feedback to adjust your sessions on the fly; if a student says they are struggling with a particular topic or concept, you can revisit it in the next session or find new ways to explain it.
2. Staff Feedback
Feedback from department staff (or even other tutors) is also crucial. Regional Directors (RDs) can provide you with insights based on observations and reports from staff. RDs regularly schedule formal observations that focus on specific aspects of your tutoring, such as engagement strategies, clarity of explanations, and responsiveness to student needs. Moreover, having been tutors themselves, RDs can offer support for any tutor concerns and provide advice on sessions, drawing from their own experiences. Additionally, don’t hesitate to ask department staff for their thoughts on how you explained something or to seek their advice if students are still struggling with certain topics. Their experience and expertise can provide you with new strategies and insights that can be highly beneficial for your tutoring.
3. Implementing Feedback
Once you have gathered feedback from students and staff, it is essential to act on it. Develop a plan to address the areas for improvement identified in the feedback and set specific, measurable goals based on it. For example, if students show a preference for visual aids during explanations, incorporate more diagrams or videos. Personalised learning is another way to act on feedback. If your students struggle with specific topics, you can develop personalised learning plans, offering extra practice resources or additional support within the session. If feedback shows that students find it challenging to follow your explanations, try working on improving your communication skills. Simplify complex ideas, use more everyday examples, and encourage students to ask questions throughout the session. Encouraging reflective practice among students (where they assess their own learning progress based on feedback) develops a deeper understanding of their strengths and areas needing improvement. At Yipiyap, we have numerous professional development opportunities to enhance your tutoring skills. By attending training and weekly Huddles, you can seek advice from peers and experienced tutors and reflect and refine your tutoring.
Overcoming challenges in feedback
Providing effective feedback can be challenging, especially for new tutors. Here are some common challenges you may come across, and how to deal with it:
Time constraints: Providing detailed feedback can be time-consuming. To manage your time effectively, prioritise the most important aspects of the student’s work. Focus on areas that carry the most marks or are critical for the student’s progression toward their target grade. For less critical areas, provide brief, focused feedback that can still guide improvement without taking too much time.
Resistance from students: Some students may be resistant to feedback, especially if it is critical. To overcome this, build a positive relationship with your students and explain the purpose of feedback, emphasising that it is intended to help them improve. For example, instead of saying “You’ve made a mistake here.”, you could say “To further improve, try doing this.”
Balancing positivity and criticism: It can be difficult to balance positive feedback with constructive criticism. One approach is to use the “sandwich” method, where you start with positive feedback, followed by constructive criticism, and end with positive comments (Prochazka, Ovcari & Durinik, 2020).
Ensuring understanding: Students may not always understand your feedback. To make sure they do, ask them to paraphrase the feedback in their own words and discuss any points they find unclear. Additionally, have them practise applying the feedback through similar questions or tasks, such as writing a paragraph using the recommended structure, or solving a similar question or equation with different numbers.
Conclusion
Effective feedback is a cornerstone of successful tutoring. Your ability to provide constructive, motivating, and clear feedback will significantly impact your students’ learning and development. Remember to be specific, timely, and balanced in your feedback. Use the right type of feedback for the situation and always aim to instil a growth mindset in your students. Additionally, make use of both formal and informal student feedback, as well as staff feedback, to continually grow professionally. By mastering your feedback skills, you will not only help your students achieve their academic goals but also inspire them to become lifelong learners.