What do students value in terms of instructor feedback on their writing? And, how does the timing of the receipt of feedback impact the development of students’ writing skills?
Turnitin recently conducted a survey of 1,000 students to gather insights into how instructor feedback impacts the development of student writing.
Key Findings
Areas of Feedback
Students find feedback on “thesis/development” the most valuable, but report receiving more feedback on grammar/mechanics and composition/structure.
Feedback Received vs Feedback Preferred
Students Receiving Feedback
Students Rating Feedback "Most Useful"
Difference
Types of Feedback
Though 66.5 percent of students report receiving “general, overall comments” on their paper, less than half of those students rated that feedback as “very helpful.”
Forty five percent of students rate voice/audio comments as helpful, but only 2.7 percent currently receive this type of feedback.
Feedback Received vs Feedback Preferred
Students Receiving Feedback
Students Rating Feedback "Very Helpful"
Difference
Demographics
Education Level
Subjects for Which Students Complete Written Assignments
Recommendations
- Instructors should discuss feedback--both the types and the timing of receipt--with their students.
- Student input on the perceived value of audio feedback and the value of feedback on their specific thesis/development underscore a desire for more individual, personalized feedback.
- Instructors should consider giving electronic-based feedback to meet students where they are.
- Students value early feedback, even if it means receiving the feedback without grades attached.