Feedback Strategies

Be A Mirror by Gravity Goldberg. Link. 

This was a pretty helpful article when it comes to understanding the kind of feedback that people respond to positively. This week's pieces have been a little hit or miss for me, but this one stood out in terms of utility. The material is important, and I agree with the quote that Goldberg includes, that "without feedback, there can be no transformative change." The article talks about the importance of teachers expressing what they see about a student that can be encouraging and constructive. Being specific and focusing on the process are two of the tips that I think would be the most helpful for students. Instead of the end result, regardless of it's "success," there is something to be learned from every process. In terms of change and more specifically, improvement, it is crucial to address the material of the action and how the student got there. 

Bring it On! Link. 

How to Give Feedback Without Sounding Like a Jerk by Adam Grant. Link. 

Grants article touched on some pretty crucial themes. While I think criticism and feedback should always be taken constructively, too often does it come off improperly. This can lead to an effect that is opposite than what was intended. I think that the first two rules were not entirely necessary to be written. However, the tip about having a "transparent dialogue" seemed pretty key. Getting feedback across that is clearly intended to aid the subject, and making that effort evident, can really benefit the transfer of advice. This way, trust can be built between the subject and the one giving feedback. Greater weight and sincerity is felt in the advice, and the actual feedback is more easily decipherable.