Feedback: Not Only For the Past but Also For the Future
By previous Warwick student, Amber Zhang
A grade is just a number, and feedback is something we can use for improvement. The usefulness of feedback goes far beyond the marker’s evaluation of that essay; it is a learning opportunity that allows for continuous improvement, self-discovery, and the development of good habits. Using feedback effectively is a vital component of any degree programme, and Amber shares some tips and experiences on how she used it.
Understand our Feedback
Feedback can be classified as “suggestive” and “encouraging”, but it is often the “suggestive” or the “critical” that can lead us to a higher grade. “Critical” feedback may have heavy emotional impacts and may even undermine our confidence. But using them properly would benefit us significantly. Here is my to-do list after getting feedback.
- Whether the grade is good or bad, put the assignment aside for a day or two to allow a brief break from it. Reading through the feedback provided by the marker again afterwards often ensures that I am reading and understanding each comment in a less emotional (joyful or frustrated) state of mind.
- Review the feedback (in-text and overview comments) to check if I understand and agree with the marking.
- Reread the essay with the feedback in mind. If you have any questions/concerns about the feedback, don’t be afraid to contact your marker! We will only be able to improve if we understand what we’re being recommended to do.
"Feedback is useful when preparing for our next assignment!"
But don’t ignore positive feedback! It’s easy to dwell on the critical comments, but we can also learn from the positive aspects of our work. Keep them to build up our confidence.
You might even find it useful to talk through your feedback with your peers and find ways you can learn from each other.
Record our Feedback
Once read and understood, it is important to create a storage system of our feedback for future reference. Feedback is useful when preparing for our next assignment!
Recording can be done in various ways, whether a table, mind map or something that could help you visualise the strengths and weaknesses. And the recording needs to be in a way that suits us and is achievable so we can easily use it to review the feedback and learn from different works.
Also, if the marker comments on the same point multiple times, it is worth prioritising the feedback into separate categories, which may help us to identify the specific issues and provide an idea of where to focus.
Above is the template table I use to store feedback on each assignment.
"...we can also learn from the positive aspects of our work."
Use our Feedback
Once we have a system to collect and store feedback, we have a great resource to help us improve. I recommend revisiting the feedback regularly, especially before submitting our next assignment. As presented in the table above, I personally tend to compartmentalise the marking criteria, which not only helps me to avoid making the same mistakes but also helps me become more aware of and consolidate my strengths!
Only by using the feedback you’ve mused over will you improve on your next assessment. The grades of submitted work are part of the past that seems unlikely to change, but the feedback attached is the space for our future improvements.
Need some extra help? Library Online courses include some great self-help resources to help develop academic skills and knowledge at any time.
Have you seen these other studying tips and tricks?
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By Library Student Partner, Laura van Diesen
Many students say that when they try to prioritize their life and wellbeing, it feels like work is being sacrificed, and vice-versa. This is the challenge of a work/life balance: it is a seesaw that you continuously have to adjust. This continuous adjustment is key to its maintenance, however. It is challenging to reach a good balance without checking in with yourself and seeing what is and isn’t working. Here are some of Laura’s tips on making sure you have time for both leisure and study at university.
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Fortunately, you’re not alone and Shuangting is here to share their tips on how to handle the transition.
Productivity Hacks for All Students
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Maintaining productivity is easier said than done. We all have our productive and unproductive days. But how do we survive University with all of it’s deadlines when we’re just not in the right mood to get anything done? Here are some of Sophie’s hacks to help weather the unproductive days.
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If you’re reading this, chances are you’re either thinking about taking on a part-time job during university or you’ve already jumped in and are now juggling timetables and timesheets. First of all – go you. Managing both is no small feat, and from one student to another, I can tell you: it’s absolutely doable with the right mindset, a bit of planning, and a good sense of humour. Shuangting is here to share her tips on how to manage it all.
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Let’s face it - summer is strange as a postgrad. The undergrads have packed up and left, campus events have slowed down, and the pace around you might feel more like a Sunday afternoon than a working week. But for postgraduates, it’s not a break. Whether you’re a PGT wrestling with your dissertation or a PGR continuing your research (unless you’re on well-earned annual leave!), the work doesn’t stop - though the structure might. Here’s Juanmo Xu’s tips for keeping up the momentum in the summer.
Tips for Studying in the Heat
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Summer at Warwick can surprise you. One week it’s pouring. The next, you’re melting over your laptop, trying to revise or write while your brain slowly turns to soup. Whether you’re based on campus or studying back home, here are some tips Juanmo has found helpful for actually getting work done in hot weather—without wilting in the process.
24-Hour Library: How Not To Leave Things to the Last Minute
By a previous Warwick student
The Library is 24/7 but you don’t need to be. Sometimes it’s inevitable that we end up leaving things to the last minute, but it’s better if that doesn’t happen all the time. So here’s one students’ best advice on how to avoid too many all-nighters and beat the procrastination bug!