Building a Culture of Feedback in Schools: Strategies, Tools, and Best Practices

Feedback is essential for learning, but how can we make sure it's truly effective in our schools?

As educators, we're constantly seeking ways to make our feedback more impactful, more sustainable, and more conducive to student growth. The secret? It's not about perfecting a single technique—it's about creating a culture where feedback is an integral part of the learning process.

Before we explore how to build a culture of feedback, it's important to clarify what we mean by feedback. Grant Wiggins provides a clear definition: "Feedback is information about how we are doing in our efforts to reach a goal." Feedback goes beyond assigning a grade or offering a simple approval. It's about providing learners with specific information they can use to progress in their learning journey. Effective feedback acts as a guide, helping students understand where they are and how they can move forward.

Thomas Guskey elaborates on this idea: "Students get nothing out of a letter, number, word, phrase, or symbol attached to evidence of their learning. Grades help enhance achievement and foster learning progress only when they are paired with individualized comments that offer guidance and direction for improvement."

Given the power of feedback, one might wonder why it isn't more consistently implemented in educational settings. This is where the concept of building a culture of feedback becomes crucial.

Imagine a school where feedback isn't just something that happens during midterms or at the end of each term. Picture an environment where feedback is woven into the fabric of daily learning, coming from multiple sources, in various forms, all working together to support student growth.

When we shift our focus from isolated instances of teacher-to-student feedback to a more holistic approach, transformative change happens. We create an environment where everyone—students, teachers, and the school itself—is constantly learning and improving.

Building this culture of feedback involves several key strategies:

• Prioritize feedback in your school's values and practices

• Train teachers and students in giving and receiving effective feedback

• Create regular opportunities for various types of feedback

• Use feedback to drive improvement at all levels—individual, classroom, and school-wide

One powerful way to implement a culture of feedback is by creating a feedback ecosystem within your school. This ecosystem is a structured approach that ensures various forms of feedback are working in harmony to support learning. Let's break down the six key elements of a feedback ecosystem:

1. Teacher-Student Feedback: This is often seen as the gold standard, but its effectiveness depends on timing and format. How can we deliver it when students will benefit most?

2. Automated Feedback: Technology can provide immediate responses. While not as nuanced as human feedback, it can be a powerful tool for quick, formative assessment. When might automated feedback be most useful in your classroom?

3. Broadcast Feedback: Sometimes, the whole group needs to hear the same thing. This can spark meaningful conversations and save time. What opportunities do you see for broadcast feedback in your teaching?

4. Peer Feedback: When students give each other feedback, they're not just helping their classmates—they're developing critical thinking skills. How can we teach students to give effective peer feedback?

5. Self-Assessment and Reflection: Students who can monitor their own thinking become better learners. What strategies can help students develop this skill?

6. Student-Teacher Feedback: This isn't just about course evaluations. It's about creating regular opportunities for students to share their needs and progress. How often do we ask students for feedback on their learning experience?

Each of these elements plays a crucial role in creating a rich, supportive learning environment. Want to dive deeper into how these elements interact? Check out our post on How to Design a Feedback Ecosystem.

Creating a thriving feedback culture is a process of thoughtful integration, where various strategies and tools come together to support your unique learning environment. As you begin to build or enhance your feedback culture, start small and be prepared to adjust based on what works best for your students and teachers.

Here are some approaches and resources that can help you implement a robust feedback culture in your school:

• Build Community Through Feedback: Implement structured peer feedback protocols and collaborative digital spaces to foster a sense of shared responsibility for learning. Explore strategies for community-building through feedback.

• Leverage Technology: Utilize collaborative writing tools, video platforms, and interactive assessment tools to make feedback more immediate and engaging. Explore tools that allow for real-time feedback, asynchronous video responses, or interactive assessments.

• Shift from Grading to Feedback: Tie feedback to clear competencies and learning outcomes to make it more meaningful and actionable. Implement practices like process portfolios and student conferences to prioritize learning over grades, impacting student motivation and engagement. Learn more about practices to support the shift from grading to feedback.

• Make Feedback Meaningful and Sustainable: Develop strategies to ensure your feedback practices are both impactful and manageable. From targeted approaches to time-saving techniques, there are ways to make feedback work effectively for everyone. Watch our expert panel discuss strategies for meaningful and sustainable feedback.

Building a culture of feedback is not about perfection—it's about progress. Start small, experiment, and be prepared to adjust as you go. The goal is to create an environment where every interaction becomes an opportunity for growth and learning.

As you embark on this journey, keep asking yourself: Are students engaging more deeply with their learning? Are teachers finding sustainable ways to provide meaningful feedback? Let these questions guide you as you refine and grow your feedback culture.

Whether you're just beginning to explore feedback ecosystems or you're looking to enhance your current feedback practices, GOA is here to support you. Visit our professional learning offerings to learn more about how our partnerships, workshops, and courses can help you build a thriving feedback culture in your school.

GOA serves students, teachers, and leaders and is comprised of member schools from around the world, including independent, international, charter, and public schools. Learn more about Becoming a Member. Our professional learning opportunities are open to any educator or school team. Follow us on LinkedIn. To stay up to date on GOA learning opportunities, sign up for our newsletter.