Formative Assessment Feedback

Note: This entry refers to asynchronous formative assessment feedback (Ex. CourseArc practice activities) not feedback for teacher-graded formative assessments. 

Alignment

Quality Matters 

3.3 C Assessment strategies provide learners with opportunities to reflect on their progress towards meeting course requirements and mastering learning objectives or competencies.

National Standards for Quality Online Teaching

G8: The online teacher creates opportunities for learner self-assessment within courses.

H2: The online teacher uses a formative approach to lesson design.

The length and breadth of feedback for auto-graded practice activities will vary based on the block type used. Any feedback should aim to achieve the following guidelines as applicable:

• Ensure that feedback is clear, concise, and specific to the student’s performance.
• Use positive language to create a supportive learning environment.
  • Acknowledge and celebrate correct responses to reinforce positive learning behaviors.
  • When pointing out errors or areas for improvement, offer constructive criticism.
• Ensure that feedback is directly related to the learning objectives and goals of the assessment.
• Help students understand how their performance aligns with the intended outcomes.
• Prompt students to reflect on their performance and the feedback received.

Examples:

Multiple Choice/True or False Practice Quiz

Instead of no feedback scripted or a simple, Correct/Incorrect, add feedback that is specific to the learner’s response, uses an encouraging tone, and prompts the learner to try again if incorrect. This is another opportunity to use the “Teacher Voice” to guide learning.

• Correct Answer: Correct! Only carbon monoxide detectors can detect carbon monoxide. 
• Correct Answer: That’s right! The Blue Whale is the largest known animal ever to have existed.
• Incorrect Answer: That’s incorrect. The African Elephant is the largest land animal but not the largest animal on earth. Try again!

Free Response

Spanish:

Nota: Your date/time should be written using the Spanish format. – Check out the sentence starters/examples below:

Salgo el 9 de octubre a las 13:20.

Mi vuelo sale el 14 de diciembre a las 9:15 de la mañana.

Math:

Was your equation y = 20 + 3x, where y is the quiz grade and x is the number of questions answered correctly? If it was, then great! The original equation would have been y = 20 + 2x. The slope is what has been increased.

• CourseArc: How do I create a quiz?
• QM K-12 Rubric, Fifth Edition.pdf
• NSQ: Quality Online Teaching
• ASCD: Seven Keys to Effective Feedback