Last updated on Apr 2, 2024

What do you do if your classroom feedback isn't fostering a positive and inclusive environment?

Feedback is a crucial part of teaching and learning, but it can also be a source of frustration, confusion, and resentment if it is not done well. How can you ensure that your feedback practices are fostering a positive and inclusive environment in your classroom, where students feel valued, supported, and motivated to improve? Here are some tips to help you.

1 Identify your feedback goals

Before you give feedback, ask yourself what you want to achieve with it. Do you want to inform, guide, encourage, or challenge your students? Do you want to focus on their strengths, weaknesses, progress, or potential? Do you want to provide feedback on their content, skills, processes, or attitudes? Depending on your goals, you may need to adjust your feedback tone, frequency, format, and criteria.

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Fábio Rebouças

Professor | Consultant | University Teacher | Epidemiologist | Health Information Analyst | Sanitarist
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1. Listen and Reflect: Pay close attention to feedback from students and colleagues, and reflect on the underlying messages. 2. Identify Patterns: Look for recurring themes or patterns in the feedback to pinpoint areas for improvement. 3. Consider Perspectives: Take into account feedback from various stakeholders to gain a comprehensive understanding. 4. Reflect on Goals: Reflect on your own goals as an educator and assess if the feedback aligns with them. 5. Seek Clarification: Don't hesitate to seek additional input or clarification to gain further insights.

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OSCAR HERNÁN VILLOUTA DATTOLI

Profesor
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En mi calidad de estudiante he vivido en "carne propia" la necesidad de tener una retroalimentación a mi pensamiento o entendimiento de algún asunto y no ha sido nada fácil, ni para mí, ni para mi tutor. Ello me hace pensar que primero se debe indagar, en qué punto de la respuesta o tarea del estudiante se encuentra la mayor debilidad. Y eso es posible conocerlo a través del diálogo y la revisión del asunto entre el instructor y el aprendiz, en el que a través de preguntas y respuestas se debe poner mayor atención hasta encontrar aquél nudo cognitivo que impide tener un resultado entre bueno e impecable.

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2 Align your feedback with learning outcomes

Feedback should be linked to the learning outcomes of your course or lesson, and should help students understand how well they are meeting them. Make sure your feedback is clear, specific, and relevant to the learning objectives, and avoid vague or general comments that do not address the learning goals. Use rubrics, checklists, or exemplars to show students what good performance looks like, and how they can improve their own work.

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3 Balance your feedback types

Feedback can be positive or negative, formative or summative, descriptive or evaluative, individual or collective, oral or written, immediate or delayed, and direct or indirect. Each type of feedback has its advantages and disadvantages, and can affect students' emotions, motivation, and self-regulation differently. Try to balance your feedback types according to the context, purpose, and needs of your students, and use a variety of sources and methods to provide feedback.

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Brooke F.

Special Education Teacher/Advocate // I create inclusive learning environments that champion diversity & accessibility. ✨ Let's Connect, Learn, and Thrive Together!
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Try to stick to a ratio of 4:1 for positive to negative feedback. For students that struggle with behavior, we even try to push this to a 10:1 ratio. For many students, school can be a stressful experience where they feel judged or even like they aren't measuring up. This can create a negative feedback cycle and foster a negative, unproductive learning environment. When we are our students' biggest cheerleader in the classroom, we can get great results and create a more positive association with school and learning rather than a negative one.

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4 Involve your students in feedback

Feedback should not be a one-way communication from you to your students, but a two-way dialogue that involves them in the feedback process. Encourage your students to self-assess and peer-assess their work, and to ask for and give feedback to each other. Ask your students to reflect on their feedback, and to act on it by setting goals, making plans, and monitoring their progress. Also, solicit feedback from your students on your teaching, and use it to improve your practice.

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Kevin Ludwig Madrid

Radiólogo maxilofacial Universidad de los Andes - Cirujano dentista Universidad Andres Bello Viña del Mar- Diplomado en Patología Ósea de los Huesos Maxilares - Diplomado en Neurodidáctica investigación acción
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Herramientas derivadas de la neurociencia, específicamente neurodidáctica, permite diseñar actividades de retroalimentación con los estudiantes de manera mas estructurada en pos de aquilatar los conocimientos.

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5 Be sensitive and respectful

Feedback can have a powerful impact on students' self-esteem, confidence, and identity, so it is important to be sensitive and respectful when giving feedback. Avoid harsh, personal, or judgmental comments that may hurt or discourage your students, and focus on the work, not the person. Use constructive and supportive language that acknowledges students' efforts, achievements, and challenges, and that offers suggestions for improvement. Emphasize feedback as a learning opportunity, not a punishment or a reward.

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César Camacho

👨🏫#DrChamaco | Dir. Serv. Acad., Tec de Monterrey campus Puebla | IG: @Dr_Chamaco
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Es importante asegurar que la retroalimentación cumpla el objetivo y se asimile por parte de los estudiantes, por ello se recomienda utilizar la técnica + - +, es decir, iniciar con comentario positivo, luego el negativo y finalmente cerrar con reforzamiento positivo.

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6 Create a feedback culture

Feedback should not be an isolated or occasional event, but a regular and integral part of your classroom culture. Create a feedback-friendly environment where feedback is valued, expected, and welcomed by both you and your students. Model and teach feedback skills and behaviors, such as listening, questioning, explaining, and thanking. Establish feedback norms and expectations, such as honesty, kindness, and openness. Celebrate feedback successes and failures, and learn from them together.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What do you do if your classroom feedback isn't fostering a positive and inclusive environment?

1

2

3

4

5

6

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1 Identify your feedback goals

2 Align your feedback with learning outcomes

3 Balance your feedback types

4 Involve your students in feedback

5 Be sensitive and respectful

6 Create a feedback culture

7 Here’s what else to consider

Teaching

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What do you do if your classroom feedback isn't fostering a positive and inclusive environment?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Identify your feedback goals

2 Align your feedback with learning outcomes

3 Balance your feedback types

4 Involve your students in feedback

5 Be sensitive and respectful

6 Create a feedback culture

7 Here’s what else to consider

Teaching

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

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