Technology-enabled feedback to improve student learning

Sheffield Hallam University is currently exploring the potential of technology-enabled feedback to improve student learning. Funded from the Higher Education Academy’s e-learning research call 2008/9, Technology, Feedback, Action! is exploring the impact of learning technology upon students’ engagement with their feedback. Building on recent innovations at Sheffield Hallam including the use of the Blackboard Grade Centre for online publication of feedback and marks, the adaptive release of marks through a bespoke Assignment Handler and electronic Feedback Wizard linking feedback to learning outcomes, the study aims to consider which elements add most value, e.g. the extent to which the timely delivery of feedback supports effective forward planning, whether withholding marks does encourage deeper reflection upon the written feedback given and the impact of electronic publishing on quantity and quality of feedback provided.

As part of this project we have recently published a review of current literature regarding the application of technology to deliver and support the use of feedback: http://evidencenet.pbwiki.com/Technology%2C-Feedback%2C-Action!-Literature-Review. We hope that you find the information in the literature review useful and invite you to contribute to and comment on the content of the literature review wiki.

More information about this project (along with the other 2008/9 e-learning research projects) can be found via the Higher Education Academy EvidenceNet at: http://evidencenet.pbwiki.com/e-Learning+Research+Projects+200809.

If you would like further information regarding the study please contact Stuart Hepplestone at Sheffield Hallam University (0114 225 4744 or S.J.Hepplestone@shu.ac.uk).