It is clear from the research that students do better and make better decisions when they are provided with timely feedback. As a general rule, please endeavor to return major papers and projects within a two week period. Shorter assignments should be returned within a week so students can fully benefit from your commentary as they complete other assignments. In fact, a survey of QVCC students revealed that they wanted more feedback, earlier in the semester, regarding their performance.
As part of the College's Quality Initiative, a process improvement team was formed to consider and recommend appropriate feedback mechanisms. Their recommendations are as follows:
.the team recommends that all instructors.choose one [early warning strategy] from the list below or devise their own appropriate means of "early warning" and use them consistently in all of their courses. The chosen method of early warning should be included in the syllabus.
List of Suggested "Early Warning" Measures
• By mid term, the instructor should ensure that each student is informed as to whether he/she is passing or failing at that point in the semester ; for example,
• Initiate and maintain dialogue with the student
• Provide informal mid-term grades
• Quiz frequently, covering small amounts of material and promptly return corrected quizzes with feedback
• Arrange and encourage individual conferences with students
• Return assignments in a timely fashion with adequate feedback or comments
• Attempt to contact any student who has missed approximately one week of class
Instructors may certainly choose to incorporate several of these suggestions, remembering that the provision of timely, instructive feedback is important to students' progress. Your faculty liaison can help you with questions about incorporating these ideas.
