Enhanced Feedback

According to Webster’s New World Dictionary (2001), feedback refers to “a process in which the factors that produce a result are themselves modified, corrected, strengthened, etc. by that result” (p. 520). Feedback has been perceived as an important component of instruction. In the instructional sense, feedback refers to any communication or procedure that is given to inform a learner of the accuracy of a response to an instructional question. Feedback allows the comparison of an actual performance and a desired performance. Information presented via feedback in instruction may include answer correctness, precision, timeliness, learning guidance, motivational messages, lesson sequence advisement, critical comparisons, and learning focus.

Providing prompt feedback is one of the seven principles initially promoted by Chickering and Ehrmann (1996).  Students need opportunities to perform during the learning process and to receive feedback on their performance and progress.  Teachers should explain to students what they are doing correctly or incorrectly.  Feedback should be “corrective” in nature, specific to a criterion, and provided in a timely manner.   

The advancement of technology has provided many ways of providing feedback to the students. Some ways are obvious and some ways are subtle.  Communication is generally classified into two categories in terms of time when communication occurs: asynchronous and synchronous.  Synchronous communication refers to communication that occurs in the real time while asynchronous communication refers to communication that does not occur at predetermined or regular intervals.  Below are some ideas that you may want to try to enhance feedback to your students in the mobile computing environment.  

I.  Asynchronous Communication

     A. Feedback via Email

     B. Feedback via Discussion Board

     C. Feedback via Program Built-in Functions

     D. Feedback via Blogging

     E. Feedback via Blackboard Online Assessment

II. Synchronous Communication  

     F. Feedback via Instant Messaging

     G. Feedback via Blackboard Chat

     H. Feedback via Blackboard Virtual Classroom

     I.  Feedback via Clickers

     J.  Feedback via DyKnow