Dylan Wiliam: Feedback on learning

Summary

This discussion on feedback in educational settings reveals that ego-involving feedback, which compares students to each other, can harm achievement and motivation. Instead, task-involving feedback, focused on improvement and specific actions, promotes better learning outcomes. Effective feedback encourages critical thinking rather than emotional responses, emphasizing a growth mindset where abilities are seen as incremental. This approach empowers students to engage more deeply with their work, fostering resilience and a desire to learn rather than merely protecting their self-esteem.

Takeaways

• 😀 Effective feedback focuses on task improvement rather than ego enhancement.
• 😀 Ego-involving feedback can lead to lower student achievement.
• 😀 Task-oriented feedback encourages students to reflect and think critically.
• 😀 Praise that compares students to their peers can have negative effects.
• 😀 Providing clear improvement strategies significantly impacts student learning.
• 😀 Students should see ability as incremental rather than fixed.
• 😀 Emotional reactions to feedback can hinder learning and engagement.
• 😀 Good feedback should prompt students to focus on growth rather than self-protection.
• 😀 Teachers should translate broad feedback principles into practical classroom applications.
• 😀 Feedback that fosters resilience and a growth mindset is crucial for student development.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the feedback discussed in the transcript?

The main focus is on distinguishing between ego-involving feedback and task-involving feedback, emphasizing that task-involving feedback is more effective for student achievement.

How does ego-involving feedback affect student performance?

Ego-involving feedback, which focuses on a student's position compared to peers, is often less effective and can lead to lower achievement and negative outcomes.

What is an example of task-involving feedback?

An example of task-involving feedback would be telling a student what they need to improve and how to achieve that improvement, rather than praising them for being one of the best.

What does research say about the effects of grades on student motivation?

Research indicates that grades can encourage comparison among students, which may lead to disengagement rather than motivating them to improve.

What should feedback aim to promote according to the speaker?

Feedback should aim to promote thinking and reflection in students, encouraging them to engage with the content rather than reacting emotionally.

Why is it important for students to see ability as incremental?

Seeing ability as incremental helps students feel more confident in their potential to improve, which encourages them to engage with challenges rather than withdraw due to fear of failure.

What role does student well-being play in responding to feedback?

Students often choose to protect their well-being in response to feedback; if they perceive a threat to their self-esteem, they may disengage from learning rather than focus on improvement.

How can teachers effectively implement the principles of feedback in their classrooms?

Teachers can implement these principles by providing specific, constructive feedback that outlines what students need to do to improve and how they can achieve that.

What is the challenge faced by teachers regarding feedback?

The challenge is to translate broad feedback principles into actionable strategies tailored to their individual classroom environments.

What impact does effective feedback have on student achievement?

Effective feedback, particularly when focused on improvement strategies, can lead to significant increases in student achievement.