Seven Keys to Effective Feedback
In this short article, author and former teacher Grant Wiggins says that helpful feedback is goal-referenced; tangible and transparent; actionable; user-friendly (specific and personalized); timely; ongoing; and consistent. He provides many examples from sports and the classroom to support his recommendations on how to provide feedback that improves learning.
The goals are more implicit than explicit, but the title provides probably the strongest statement of purpose, seven keys to effective feedback. The standards, methods, accuracy, plausibility and value are a combination of author’s expertise, the supporting evidence and examples, and a large measure of just common sense. What this article lacks in visuals and design, it makes up in organization, easy to understand language, concise sentences, and just enough detail to keep the reader reading. If I could only give one article to colleagues and teachers, this would be it. The author and article score far about the maximum in usefulness, cost-benefit, and timeliness.