Students receive open written feedback on assignments from both their teacher and fellow students. Feedback is given openly using the commenting function in the text editor. This is done over the course of four assignments in which students analyse digital media based on relevant theory reviewed during webinars. The activity described here is thus repeated four times.
THE PROCESS | |||
In plenum | Introduction to the activity
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Individual | First assignment
First round of feedback
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In plenum | Reviewing feedback
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Individual | Second assignment
Second round of feedback
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We found that students were receptive to the feedback they received from the teacher and improved their analytical and academic work throughout the module. The activity also gave us (as teachers) a valuable insight into how the students were doing, what their strengths were and where they could improve.
We also found that students liked being able to read each other’s drafts and assignments, feedback on their own assignments, and feedback on their fellow students’ assignments. The process often developed into a written dialogue in the text’s comments field.
Students may feel uncomfortable having to share their assignments with their classmates. It is important to emphasise that the purpose of the activity is to establish a class culture of sharing, helping and inspiring each other. We emphasised that the assignments were a work in progress that could be improved up until the final exam.
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