eLearningbyDana

Feedback

Information provided to a learner about their performance, response, or work that helps them understand what they are doing well, what may need to change, and how they can improve.

Feedback

Help learners understand what happened and what to do next.

Feedback is information learners receive about their performance, response, decision, or work. It helps them understand what they are doing well, what may need to change, and how they can improve.

Feedback can come from an instructor, coach, manager, peer, system, assessment, or even the results of the learner's own actions. It may be immediate or provided later, depending on the task and learning environment.

Useful feedback does more than tell someone whether they were right or wrong. It helps the learner make sense of the result and supports better performance the next time.

Good Feedback Helps the Learner Move Forward

The purpose is not simply to judge performance. Feedback should give learners information they can use.

Confirm What Is Working Help learners recognize effective choices, behaviors, or approaches so they know what to continue doing.
Identify What Needs Attention Point out errors, gaps, or missed considerations clearly enough that the learner understands what needs to change.
Explain Why When useful, connect the result to a principle, consequence, standard, or expected way of working.
Support the Next Attempt Give the learner enough direction to make a stronger decision, response, or performance the next time.
Feedback is most valuable when learners can use it—not simply receive it.

Make Feedback Specific Enough to Act On

Comments such as “Good job,” “Incorrect,” or “Try again” provide very little guidance on their own.

Useful Question After reading this feedback, will the learner know what to keep doing or change?
Focus on the Performance Describe the response, behavior, decision, or work rather than making broad judgments about the person.
Be Clear and Specific Identify the important part of the learner's performance instead of relying on vague praise or correction.
Give Enough Explanation Explain the reasoning or consequence when it helps the learner understand why a different approach would work better.
Effective feedback helps learners understand what to do next.

Plan Feedback as Part of the Learning Experience

Feedback should be designed around the type of practice or performance learners are completing—not added as an afterthought.

Knowledge Checks Explain why an answer works or does not work when that explanation reinforces useful understanding.
Scenarios + Decisions Show the likely consequence of the learner's choice and connect it to the judgment or behavior being practiced.
Skill Practice Provide observations that help learners adjust how they perform the task, communicate, troubleshoot, or respond.
On-the-Job Learning Build opportunities for coaching, peer input, reflection, or review after learners apply the skill in real work.
The right feedback depends on what the learner is practicing and what better performance looks like.

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