Feedback tells students what they did well and what they can do better. It is one of the most useful parts of learning, whether the work is a presentation, an essay, or a project. This guide explains why feedback matters, what it does for students, and how teachers can give feedback that helps, including through peer review.
On this page 6 sections
Why feedback matters in learning
Feedback gives students clear information about their strengths and their areas for improvement. With that information, students can improve their performance, build new skills, and grow more confident.
Feedback can come from three main sources:
- Teachers, who know the learning goals and can point students toward them
- Peers, who offer other points of view on the same task
- The student, through self-reflection on their own work
Research supports the role of feedback in learning. Hattie and Timperley (2007) describe feedback as one of the most powerful tools for improving student performance. They suggest that effective feedback is timely, specific, and targeted toward learning goals.
What good feedback does for students
When it is done well, feedback can help students:
- Improve their performance
- Keep growing and developing
- Build confidence
- Stay motivated
- Develop critical thinking skills
- Strengthen their communication skills
Regular, helpful feedback also creates a positive classroom where students feel supported as they learn.
How to give effective feedback
Good feedback starts with the student’s needs and the learning goals of the task. Teachers can follow these five practices.
- Give it on time. Share feedback as soon as possible after the presentation, essay, or project is done. Students can then reflect on their work while it is fresh and make changes if needed.
- Be specific. Avoid general comments such as “good job.” Say exactly what the student did well and where they need to improve, and connect your comments to the learning goals.
- Keep it positive. Deliver feedback in an encouraging way. A positive approach builds the student’s confidence and motivation, so they are more willing to act on it.
- Encourage self-reflection. Ask students to look back on their own work and name what they could improve. This builds critical thinking and self-awareness.
- Involve peers. Peer review lets students hear from classmates, not just the teacher. They gain a range of perspectives and useful insights into their own work.
Using peer review in class
Peer review turns feedback into a shared activity. When classmates review each other’s presentations, essays, or projects, the student receiving feedback gets several points of view, and the student giving feedback practices looking closely at work against the learning goals. The same five practices above apply to peers: feedback should be timely, specific, positive, and tied to what the task is meant to show.
Key takeaways
- Feedback is a core part of learning and supports student growth.
- Effective feedback is timely, specific, and targeted toward learning goals.
- Teachers, peers, and the students themselves can all be sources of feedback.
- Peer review is a valuable tool, and teachers can make it a regular part of the feedback process.
Frequently asked questions
What makes feedback effective?
Effective feedback is timely, specific, and targeted toward the learning goals. It should also be delivered in a positive, encouraging way so students feel motivated to improve.
Who can give students feedback?
Feedback can come from teachers, from peers through peer review, and from students themselves through self-reflection.
Why is peer review useful?
Peer review gives students a variety of perspectives on their work and valuable insights into their performance, beyond what the teacher alone provides.
When should teachers give feedback?
As soon as possible after the presentation, essay, or project is completed, so students can reflect on their work and make changes if needed.
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