As stated in one section of this module regarding guidelines for the instructor who is providing feedback to the online student, (1) feedback should be provided on a timely basis (2) in such a way that they build confidence within learners and encourage them to continue to pursue the course objectives, and (3) when feedback contains criticisms, choose the correct tone and wording to avoid damaging the learner's dignity. So, below I have provided examples of each of the above three guidelines.
Providing timely feedback:
Example: "Hi Sarah, I’ve returned your week 1 essay within 48 hours so you can apply these comments on thesis statement structure to your annotated bibliography due next Monday."
Building confidence and encouraging objectives:
Example: "Your analysis of the case study was very insightful, specifically how you connected the theory to the real-world scenario. Your passion for this topic really shines through! Keep pushing this critical thinking in the upcoming discussion forum."
Constructive criticism with appropriate tone:
Example: "You have a strong understanding of the core concepts, but the argument in paragraph four could be stronger with more empirical evidence, meaning information acquired through direct observation, experimentation, or sensory experience, rather than theory, intuition, or logic alone. Instead of stating 'the proof is missing,' state it differently by encouraging the student to check the rubric and add a peer-reviewed source to support that point for a higher grade next time.
