Learning & Teaching

Agency & Effective Feedback

On our School Closure Day last Monday 15 April, we had the pleasure of working with Kate Korber from The Inquiry Project on Agency and Feedback. We spent the day unpacking effective feedback and practical strategies to empower student voice, choice and ownership of their learning. 

Empowering students to take ownership of their learning is crucial for their academic success and personal growth. Effective feedback and strategies that encourage student voice and choice can make a significant difference in their engagement and motivation. 

Staff explored a range of strategies, and the difference between feedback and praise. 

Feedback is typically more detailed and specific than praise. It highlights areas of strength and areas for improvement, offering actionable suggestions for growth. The primary aim of feedback is to facilitate learning and improvement. It helps students understand how they can enhance their performance and achieve their goals. Feedback encourages students to reflect on their work and consider how they can apply the feedback to future tasks or assignments. It fosters metacognitive skills by prompting students to think about their learning process.

Praise recognises students' accomplishments and efforts. It can boost confidence and motivation by affirming students' abilities and hard work. While it acknowledges success, it may not provide specific guidance on how to replicate or build upon that success. 

Here at OLA, Teacher Feedback is timely, specific and actionable that focuses on both strengths and areas for improvement. Staff are excited to continue working on unpacking effective feedback strategies in the classroom, especially implementing Peer Feedback and using Self - Assessment strategies.  

By incorporating these strategies into our teaching practice, we empower students to become active participants in their own learning journey and develop the skills they need to succeed academically and beyond.

Michela Vella

Learning & Teaching Leader