Making Feedback Meaningful to Students: Insights from MoteCon 2022
In this insightful session at MoteCon 2022, speaker Paul Cancellieri, a seasoned middle school science teacher and author, delved into the art of delivering feedback that truly resonates with students. With over two decades of classroom experience, Paul shared practical strategies for educators to enhance the effectiveness of their feedback, utilizing tools like Mote to make it more engaging and actionable.
• Feedback should be engaging and actionable, regardless of its format—audio, video, or text.
• Moving away from traditional grades can foster a more positive learning environment.
• Utilizing Mote can significantly enhance the delivery and reception of feedback.
• Traditional grading often hinders learning more than it helps, encouraging a shift towards alternative assessment methods.
• Building a culture of feedback is essential for meaningful student engagement.
Feedback in education is crucial, yet it often falls short when it fails to engage students or incite action. Paul emphasized the importance of making feedback more engaging by using Mote, a versatile voice recording tool that integrates seamlessly with Google Workspace. This tool allows educators to convey tone and emotion, which are often lost in text-based feedback.
Traditional grading systems are deeply ingrained in educational practices, but Paul argues they often do more harm than good. He shared his experience of teaching in a school that allows for flexible grading practices, enabling him to experiment with innovative assessment methods that prioritize learning over grades. By reducing the emphasis on grades, students can focus more on actual learning without the pressure of achieving high scores at any cost.
The session highlighted the need for creating a culture of feedback within the classroom. Paul shared insights from his book, "Creating a Culture of Feedback," which offers a concise introduction to developing a feedback-centric mindset. This culture encourages students to view feedback as a tool for improvement rather than a judgment of their abilities. Mote facilitates this by making feedback more accessible and personalized.
Grades traditionally serve as a motivator for students to complete assignments. However, Paul pointed out that this often leads to negative consequences such as increased stress and cheating. By shifting the focus from grades to feedback, educators can help students concentrate on learning and personal growth.
Paul Cancellieri is a dedicated middle school science teacher with over 20 years of experience in the Raleigh-Durham area of North Carolina. As an author and practicing educator, he brings a wealth of knowledge and practical insights into creating effective feedback systems in education.
In this session, we explore three basic tips for making your feedback to students more engaging and actionable. These tips apply to any grade level and any format (audio, video, or text).
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