Setting Objectives and Providing Feedback

Provide students a direction for learning and information regarding how well they are performing relative to a particular learning goal so that they can improve their performance.

Generalizations From Research

 * 1) Setting instructional goals narrows what students focus on.
 * 2) Teachers should encourage students to personalize the learning goals the teacher has identified for them.
 * 3) Instructional goals should not be too specific.
 * 4) Feedback should be corrective in nature.
 * 5) Feedback should be timely.
 * 6) Feedback should be specific to a criterion.
 * 7) Students can effectively provide some of their own feedback.

Example Activities

 * Rubrics
 * Bulletin Board of Example Work -- a "visual rubric" that includes "A", "B", "C", and unacceptable quality work.
 * Electronic Portfolios

Recommendations & Ideas

 * 1) Set Learning Objectives or Goals that are specific but flexible
 * 2) Contract with students to obtain specific learning objectives or goals
 * 3) Use criterion-referenced feedback
 * 4) Focus feedback on specific types of knowledge
 * 5) Use student-led feedback

Information presented above in the definition is from McREL, and generalizations from research, and recommendations & ideas is from Classroom Instruction that Works: Research-Based Strategies for Increasing Student Achievement (ASCD)(Robert J. Marzano, Debra J. Pickering, Jane E. Pollock).

Web 2.0 Connections
"Y" Under each category indicates that this tool can be used with this strategy.

"Free +" Indicates that the tool is free at the basic level, but that more advanced versions are available at a cost.

Category Key:

SD = Identifying Similarities and Differences CL = Cooperative Learning SNT = Summarizing and Note-Taking ER = Reinforcing Effort and Providing Recognition HP = Homework and Practice NR = Nonlinguistic Representation OF = Setting Objectives and Providing Feedback HYP = Generating and Testing Hypotheses QCO = Questions, Cues, and Advance Organizers 

Examples from teachers, students, classrooms, schools
Please click on the "edit" tab to share your examples here.

Contributor: Kristina Hurley

Its been a few months since I have read the book but didn't it also mention using polls like PollDaddy or PollCat? This would be helpful in setting objectives based on what do the kids already know. It would also be helpful for quick feedback.

Another tool to consider are clickers, ActiVotes for instance give quick feedback from the class as a discussion is taking place.

Contributor: Louise Maine Besides using online survey tools, we have used google spreadsheets to create a form for a survey. Students have surveyed others in school for information on most popular fireworks, resource use at home for conservation exercises, etc. I have used google spreadhseets (forms) to survey students on web 2.0 and traditional class activities that are effective for their learning. Student feedback is important for determining what works in the classroom.