Feedback : what does it look like and where can I get some?

Angela McLean

University of Otago

Why is it important?

The notion of feedback is central to student-centred learning (Biggs, 1999), to good practice in promoting learning (Sadler, 1998), to empowering self-regulation in learners (Nicol and MacFarlane-Dick, 2006) and to providing opportunities for review and reflection by learners and teachers alike (Nicol and MacFarlane-Dick, 2006). But what is feedback? Is it the same thing to one person as it is to another? A cohort of students in the Health Sciences participated in a research project looking at their views and experiences of feedback, as well as their various approaches, motivations and subsequent utilisation of feedback. The results of the project shine an insightful light into one aspect of being a student.

How the session will be run:

This will be a discussion session, with shared ideas and input from participants on: experiences of feedback, what participants think feedback is, the idea of disciplinary differences and how knowing what students think can help generate meaningful interaction. The session will also be a chance to address the question in the title - where can I get some feedback?

Biggs, J. (1999) Teaching for quality learning at university. Buckingham: SRHE.

Nicol, D. J. and MacFarlane-Dick, D. (2006) Formative assessment and self-regulated learning: a model and seven principles of good feedback practice. Studies in Higher Education, vol 31(2), 199-218.

Sadler, D.R. (1998) Formative assessment: revisiting the territory. Assessment in Education: Principles, Policies and Practice, vol 5(1), 77-84.

Angela McLean graduated with a physiotherapy degree from the University of Otago in the mid-1990s and spent the next few years working as a physiotherapist, with an interest in neurological physiotherapy and in travelling. A job at Otago teaching Human Biology kindled her interest into the world of tertiary learning and teaching, and this led to extramural study towards a diploma in teaching and learning from Massey University. Since then, her interest in tertiary students’ experiences has seen her undertake a research thesis involving Health Science students and the nature of feedback, including how and what students think about feedback, and the variety of factors that influence what students do with feedback. Angela is writing up this research under the joint supervision of Prof Helen Nicholson (Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, Otago School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago) and Dr Carol Bond (Student Learning Centre, Higher Education Development Centre, University of Otago).