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Using feedback
and working with tutors

We value your opinion
and welcome your feedback
Standard American business phrase

• Collaborative/cooperative learning
• Group projects
• Active Listening
• Conflict resolution
• Case study:: conflict resolution
• Peer mediation
• Tutoring guidelines
• Using feedback/working with tutors   ◄
• Constructive use of feedback

Feedback, whether written or spoken, is a good guide on how your work is progressing,  It should let you know

• what you have done well

• how you can improve or develop the specific assignment

• how you can achieve successful outcomes over a number of assignments

Responding to feedback needs to be timely, but not immediate.  Try not to "defend" your work when the feedback is given.  Instead, listen to it, and try to build constructively on your assignment, and your skills.  The goal is to improve, not debate.

When your presentation receives spoken feedback at the time of presentation:

• Take notes on both positive and critical items
• Thank the person whether fellow student, teacher, or guest commentator
• Use active listening skills
• Respond to direct questions regarding process
  or how you developed such-and-such, or arrived at a certain viewpoint
• Do not react immediately to criticism, but say you will reflect upon what is said
• After you have reflected upon the feedback, create a "cover note summary" to refer to for the next presentation.

When your assignment is returned to you with written feedback
either on your assignment, or online:

• Read the feedback carefully
  try to understand not only the points made, but also the point of view
• Re-read your assignment to analyze
  the areas that the feedback refers to
• Highlight and/or cross-reference the feedback to your work,
  or draw attention in the text to corrections and suggestions
• Pay attention to positive and negative comments
  Think of feedback as you would compliments and suggestions for improvement
  Feedback is also an opportunity for idea exchange
• Correct your assignment
• Add a cover note that summarizes your revision of the assignment
• File the original, the corrected version, and cover note
  for reference for the next assignment
• If requested, turn in the corrected version with its cover note

The cover note summary
Good points:	Areas for improvement:

If the feedback seems too negative

• Wait a period of time to make sure you don't respond "angry"

• Make an "in person" appointment with the tutor, your teacher, or a support professional,
  (or arrive during scheduled "help" times/office hours)

• Approach the feedback as an opportunity to improve and develop, prioritizing areas to focus on

Working with a tutor

• Make an appointment with your tutor
  or arrive during their scheduled times/office hours
• Review your completed assignment just before arriving
  Separately mark areas you may be unsure of,
  or note questions you might have
• Bring your assignment, your questions/concerns, and this form
  and complete it with the tutor

Issues you understand	Issue: major or minor	Actions for follow up
1.
2.
3.
Issues you don't understand	Issue: major or minor	Actions for follow up
1.
2.
3.

See also:
Modeling constructive use of feedback in the classroom;
an exercise

Websites:

Royal Literary Fund "Using feedback"
Includes pages on What is the importance of feedback?; Who should I ask to read my work?; When should I ask people to read my work?; How do I ask someone to read my work?; How do I respond to feedback?

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill--The Writing Center "Getting feedback on writing"

Study Guides and Strategies "Philosophy of learning in groups"

University of Surry - Guildford "Using feedback"
within guides on writing

Monash University "Language and Learning Online--Writing"
Sections on general writing and in subject areas

Joe's professional and personal webpages Digg | Facebook | Google Bookmarks Newsvine | Reddit | StumbleUpon

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