Case Study: Audio Feedback

Abstract

James describes his practice below:

“There are three key areas where I use verbal feedback.

Students on module 5001 are required to submit a formative piece of work, which is a scenario relating to a fictitious persons experience and symptoms that could be classified as a mental health problem. I received between 30 and 40 submissions of three scenarios. Each scenario is 300 to 500 words long. Using recorded verbal feedback gives me the ability to provide gentle critique, as this is the first piece of work students are submitting at level 5. By gentle I mean using tone of voice and other verbal techniques to convey encouragement and interest. Whilst I do ensure that there are key learning outcomes addressed in feedback, there may be other secondary or peripheral aspects of the scenario work which are worthy of consideration and discussion.

I also use verbal feedback in the assessment of summative work. Here I will provide cut-and-paste written comments e.g. based on grade descriptors. Then provide supplementary commentary to discuss or identify why those grade descriptors are appropriate. E.g. “in paragraph 2 you do a really good job of synthesising guidance from other types of long-term health conditions’’. So feedback in an assessment like this would consist of a grade, grade descriptors, and using audio identifying specific examples of where the grade descriptors can clearly be shown to apply.

The third area is in personal development plans. If the student requires an explanation of further information, I will often do this using audio. I make the assumption that this is a more personal and intimate form of communication and email or text.

Using verbal feedback allows me the flexibility and the time to discuss these aspects of the students work. I find that verbal feedback is an easier and much more natural way of ‘’talking to students’’. The feedback from students is that they do listen to the formative commentary and prefer it to written comments. Overall, I would suggest that audio provide you with more bang for your buck. It's relatively easy to provide feedback in a short space of time and that allows you to add depth and personalise feedback. In addition, it enables you to convey emotion which is critical if feedback is going to be positive. If you listened to my audio feedback, empathy, encouragement, interest are all evident. These are sentiments that I find difficult to convey in written text.”

Further reading/more information

• To make audio feedback in Canvas please read How do I leave feedback comments for student submissions in SpeedGrader
• Extensive research project reviewing audio and video feedback (JISC)