Feedback in Practice: Evaluative and Descriptive

FEEDBACK IN PRACTICE

Types of Feedback

Evaluative Feedback, (e.g., percentage marks, letter grades) and frequent evaluation can have a negative impact on learning and motivation. [ref]Tunstall & Gipps, 1996, Black & Wiliam, 1998[/ref] Even praise, when focused on characteristics of the learner rather than on the characteristics of the work, can have the opposite of the intended effect. [ref]Dweck, 2007[/ref]

• Tells learners how they compare to others
• Provides a judgment summarizing the quality of the learning
• Is a direct result of summative assessment

Descriptive Feedback helps students to learn by providing information about their current achievement (Where am I now?) with respect to a goal (Where am I going?) and identifying appropriate next steps (How can I close the gap?). [ref]Stiggins, Arter, Chappuis & Chappuis, 2004, Sadler, 1989[/ref]

• Provides specific information in the form of written comments or conversations
• Helps the learner understand what he or she needs to do to improve
• Is a crucial part of formative assessment

Evaluative is summative, a grade. Descriptive is formative, either can be verbal or written.