I was recently
reading The Online Survival Guide by
Boettcher and Conrad (pg. 173) about the rules of feedback for online learning.
There seems to be some general rules, i.e. give feedback early and often, be
prompt when you set a time frame for feedback and make sure the feedback is
personal and formative. Leaving the academic aspects about feedback aside I
began to realize that the emotional part of feedback reminds me a lot of a
discipline program called Love and Logic.
http://www.loveandlogic.com/ . Almost
every principal I’ve worked for has required training or reading created by the
Love and Logic program for classroom
management and discipline. Love and Logic
has many great techniques. One technique that has worked well for me in the
classroom (and at home) is that of acknowledging the child. Every child wants
to be seen. Some will behave in negative ways for attention and some will act
like angels in the hopes to get noticed. But once a child is acknowledged in
some way, not even necessarily in a positive or negative way, that child
becomes more engaged, helpful, and more comfortable in the environment. I don’t
need to praise or admonish but simply state that I recognize a student’s presence.
Sometimes I would simply say to a student, “I see you got new shoes” or “I saw
that you put the pencils away” and suddenly I saw that child have much more
positive energy.
Applying
this acknowledgment technique to online learning seems very similar to
classroom management. Even I, as a graduate student, want to be seen and
acknowledged with the work I am doing online. There is something exciting and
satisfying about knowing my thoughts have been read and processed. Both peer
and instructor feedback creates a desire to do a better job. When designing
online courses for my elementary students I will remember just how important
this acknowledgement will be to keep children motivated and on task. Children
could easily feel disconnected to others and their work while working online. Peer
and instructor feedback is crucial for successful learning. This feedback could
occur in discussion groups, online evaluations, badges, or with traditional
grades. Hopefully recognition in the online world will do it’s magic.
Hi Clare,
ReplyDeleteFeedback is very important. In my line of work feedback is omnidirectional - learner to instructor, instructor to learner, and learner to manager (regarding learners performance).
I agree with your position that children will actively engage in the class if they feel they are part of the class. Adults, however, may need a little more than just acknowledgement. Some adults attend lectures or seminars for their own benefit or for the benefit of their organization. I think adults need a little more incentive to engage in the class, especially if they are “forced” to attend. It’s important that adults see the value in the content (What’s In It For Me) for a successful learning experience.
Do you think one form of feedback has a bigger impact for online learning? I'm hoping to use audio or video feedback as I think it is more personal and works well with my beginning readers. It fits with Love and Logic by making it more personal, I think.
ReplyDeleteI think audio or video feedback sounds great. I think the students I have had would love it.
DeleteClaire-
ReplyDeleteWhat a thoughtful blog this month. I really like how you are incorporating the ideas from Love and Logic. I have seen it work so wonderfully in the classroom when teachers use it right. I also am thinking of how to give appropriate feedback to my little ones online. I like Meagan's idea of using audio or video. I think my kids would really like that. I am curious what feedback tools you are currently using right now? Or any that you have tried and has not worked so well?
I usually used written feedback in journals.
DeleteHello Clare,
ReplyDeleteI like your comments about the simple ways teachers can acknowledge a child that will make the child feel like a real person, and help motivate them to to continue being great students. Some kids spend their entire day trying to impress the teacher and never really get any feedback on that – they are usually the quiet students who sit in the corner, trying to be unobtrusive. They are usually the ones that always bring their materials to class, or they are the first to turn in their homework assignment. These are the kids that are so easy to overlook, yet a kind word from the teacher might just put a smile on their faces for the rest of the year. My mom was a teacher and always reminded me that every child should feel like a success in school. She said, it was important for me to find at least one positive thing to thank a child for, or one positive thing to encourage the child to belong. It is this way that we teach, not necessarily future rocket scientists, but students who will grow to be members of our community and who will contribute to it as they have been to taught to be.
I think this concept will work for an online class. Students can receive acknowledgment in different ways online, but as long as the instructor has some open avenue for communication, then it should not be too difficult. I think that the success in online courses is the constant communication. I have been lucky and have had instructors immediately answer my emails, and sometimes, we end up using the chat when we find ourselves online at the same time. It has made me feel acknowledged, and I think it has contributed to my success as an online student.
Carmen
Clare,
ReplyDeleteThe thoughts that came to mind while reading your post were memories that varied from childhood until the present. I remember how excited I was to get mail addressed to me, it didn't matter who it was from just seeing my name on the envelope made me happy. It is the same feeling when going to a store or restaurant and those working there remember either your name or what you like. I too have had better engagement in discussions when I see I have been "heard." I mean how many of us would keep talking to someone when they won't listen....oh wait...I'm married. Ok most times I don't keep talking when no one is listening.
Great points. I totally agree, when others signify that they are watching you, and your work, you tend to respond accordingly. I feel like my students are constantly pushing me to respond to them, and when I do thoughtfully, it completely impacts their engagement, involvement and behavior.
ReplyDeleteTrue, I think in an online environment, more than in traditional classrooms, students need to be acknowledged. As you mentioned, the first time I took an online class a couple of years ago, I felt the same way as you did when I didn't receive any feedback from my facilitator. That made me feel neglected. And I am 40!!!! Students might feel like their work is not appreciated or of good quality if they don't receive feedback or recognition from their peers or instructors. This is true for K-12 and post secondary level, online or traditional classrooms. This will affect their motivation for the next assignment. That said, after a while, I realized that there are way too many posts and way too many students for the instructor to provide feedback on every single post, to every single student.
ReplyDeleteBut yes, there is a lot of truth in what you said. Good post!