Engaging, motivating, and supporting students through feedback

Abstract

Learning is iterative. It takes time and effort. Real progress in any subject requires we engage, motivate, and support learners as they take next steps to improve their work. Brent Duckor and Carrie Holmberg show how teachers can use progress guides as a formative feedback tool to re-engage and support students where they are, while keeping the focus on concrete steps they can take to move forward in the learning cycle. Drawing from research and case study evidence, they highlight how students and teachers can move conversations forward in safe and respectful ways. Without relying on graded judgments, the progress guide approach preserves the goals of continuous improvement and recenters learning for all students.