1 of 31

Feedback �as Care 

A model of assessment, feedback, and grading for STEM classrooms

2 of 31

Introductions

Sarah Rose Cavanagh

Senior Associate Director of Teaching and Learning, Associate Professor of Practice in Psychology, Simmons University

Bryan M. Dewsbury

Associate Professor of Biology, Florida International University, Associate Director, STEM Transformation Institute

3 of 31

Thank you to the National Science Foundation Research Coordination Network Funding Mechanism!

Cultivating an ecosystem of feedback in undergraduate biology education for greater equity and effectiveness

Sarah Rose Cavanagh

Michele Lemons

Bryan Dewsbury

Linda Fergusson-�Kolmes

Tolu Noah

Jim Lang

Heather Urry

Lindsay Wheeler

Carol Hurney

4 of 31

Our Time Together

Literature Review & Previous Work

Feedback Activity

Our Conceptual Model of Asset-Based Feedback

Q&A

5 of 31

Provided following an assessment or other learning activity

Helps students and instructors identify current gaps in a student's journey from novice to expertise in a given domain…

And move toward filling those gaps (shifts in both student and instructor behavior).

Feedback

6 of 31

Feedback grounded in the real strengths and individual experiences that students bring to their educational journeys, provided in ways that maximize effectiveness, equity, and feedback uptake.

Asset-Based Feedback

7 of 31

Benefits of Asset-Based Feedback

1

Elevated learning

2

Heightened motivation

3

Increased self-regulation

4

Better equity

5

Improved teaching

Hattie & Timperley, 2007; Koenka et al., 2021; Fong & Schallert, 2023; Chen & Bonner, 2018; Taylor & McCormack, 2004; Kuh, 2008; Artze-Vega, Darby, Dewsbury, Imad, 2023; Anseel et al., 2015, Zee & Koomen, 2016.

8 of 31

Will Feedback Be Effective?�Feedback Literacy

Carless & Winstone, 2023

Students: Skilled engagement with understanding the importance of feedback, managing one’s emotional reaction to feedback, and taking appropriate action.

Instructors: Managing pedagogy and classroom climate in ways that guide students to use and appreciate feedback.

9 of 31

  • 27 Introductory Biology Instructors
  • Intentionally chosen for diversity: gender, race/ethnicity, institution type, position type, number of years teaching
  • One hour interviews on Zoom about assessment, feedback, and grading philosophies and practices

Lemons, Dewsbury, Wheeler, & Cavanagh (in press). Assessment, feedback, and grading practices and philosophies of introductory biology instructors. Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education.

10 of 31

Qualitative Themes from Our Interviews 

Feedback...

  1. as care

"a humanistic exercise"

  • as guiding instruction

"my way to get into their brains"

  • as guiding student learning

"guide them in the right direction"

  • as building student confidence

"show them the potential they have"

  • as a tool for differential / individual instruction

"more personalized than generalized"

11 of 31

Feedback as Care

“the importance to me (of feedback) is that they see that I really did put the time into reading their answers, I do care... I'm your teacher. I'm here to build that relationship. I do care about what you have to say….let's keep that human side of it going”

“but then also like showing that reciprocal like care of you know I care that you're learning or not”

“I am seeing what you are doing so that they feel seen, they feel their efforts are being seen, and to offer individualized feedback”

grace does wonders on these students. Like we tell them you're so awesome I think you can do it if you put in the work and it has just a magical effect

12 of 31

Our Time Together

Literature Review & Previous Work

Feedback Activity

Our Conceptual Model of Asset-Based Feedback

Q&A

13 of 31

  1. Locate Your Supplies
  2. Choose a partner (or 2)
  3. Choose a drawer/artist

14 of 31

15 of 31

Artist:�

CLOSE

YOUR

EYES while drawing!

16 of 31

Guessers…

give your artist feedback on their drawing. What could they have done to communicate the meaning on the card more effectively?

Guessers…

<<3:00->>

17 of 31

Everyone

Was the feedback….�

  • Well-matched to the task?
  • Timely?
  • Actionable?
  • Varied in modality?
  • Dialogic or one-way?
  • Motivational?
  • Relational?

<<4:00->>

18 of 31

Our Time Together

Literature Review & Previous Work

Feedback Activity

Our Conceptual Model of Asset-Based Feedback

Q&A

19 of 31

Nicol & MacFarlane, 2006

A Model of�

Feedback

20 of 31

Nicol & MacFarlane, 2006

A Model of�

Feedback

21 of 31

Improving on Existing Models of Feedback

Affective/Motivational Advancements

Greater Equity-minded, Dialogic Focus

Appreciation of Barriers & Constraints

22 of 31

7 Principles of Asset-Based Feedback

  1. Purposefully planned: Starts with course design, well-matched to LOs
  2. Well-sequenced: Frequent and timely
  3. Actionable: Clarifies learning, opportunities for revision
  1. Varied: Modality, level of detail, varied types of learning
  2. Dialogic: Creates multidirectional knowledge exchange
  3. Motivational: Encourages self-regulation
  4. Relational: Provided within a trusting educational alliance 

← our guide to these principles

23 of 31

24 of 31

Feedback: Your Reflections

25 of 31

26 of 31

“The instructor is responsible for learning from how the learner has responded to feedback, refining how to provide feedback more effectively. In this cyclical process, the learner's response acts as feedback to the instructor.”

Fong & Schallert, 2023

27 of 31

Moving Into the Future

Large Classes

AI

Limited instructor bandwidth

Culturally responsive/humble

28 of 31

Our Time Together

Literature Review & Previous Work

Feedback Activity

Our Conceptual Model of Asset-Based Feedback

Q&A

29 of 31

Toolkit Working Groups (TWGs) topics:

7 Principles of Asset Based Feedback

Motivating Students to Uptake and Use Feedback

Effectively Implementing Peer Feedback

Classroom Assessment Techniques

Exploring the Role of AI in Feedback

30 of 31

Northeast/�MidAtlantic

Pacific Northwest

Great Lakes

Southeast

MidWest

West Coast

Southwest

31 of 31

Questions? Comments?��Also enter your email to join us – we’ll be offering an online toolkit of resources to improve feedback in UBE and vouchers for the formation of regional hubs to implement the toolkit!

Thank you to the National Science Foundation Research Coordination Network Funding Mechanism!