By using feedback you may identify exactly what you need to work on. Feedback does not only come in the form of comments on formal academic work. Feedback may be more informal, through verbal comments in lectures or tutorials or delivered to a whole group through canvas.

To develop as a reflective learner it is important to seek feedback where possible in order to appraise your work yourself. This may mean completing peer review forms for others on your programme, making notes on feedback received to establish any overlap or using a reflective model to establish what would be an effective next step in your development. 

When you have your feedback it may be useful to look back at the work that you have submitted, looking at it without feedback. It may be useful to consider the mark that you think you should have achieved for the assignment, giving reasons for your marks. You could add in notes about points you have included, what you would now omit and what you would now change after reflecting on the feedback. You could record these reflections in a feedback journal and revisit them at the end of each semester to ensure that you are building on your skills. 

Watch the video below to learn more about reflecting on your feedback. 

Check out the link to our Study Skills Library Guide on Reflection for more information. 

Written university feedback for summative assessments usually includes a grade and written comments from your tutor. 

• It is important not to simply read the grade and not read the comments as they are intended to support you to improve and develop. 
• If, once you have read the comments you are still unsure what they mean, make an appointment to discuss them with your tutor. 
• Prepare any questions in advance of your meeting so that it is focussed 
• Keep a record of your feedback and what you want to do to improve. 

It may be prudent to ask tutors if they can provide feedback on essay plans. 

If you are aware that you need to work on a particular skill, make an appointment with a Study Skills Adviser to discuss an aspect of your feedback such as critical thinking, referencing or academic writing. You could also make an appointment with your subject Librarian to discuss search strategies. 

It may be useful to look at the document below to help you gain an understanding of the marking process and form a realistic action plan to aid your future development. 

Formative feedback will not usually count towards your final grade but can support you to monitor learning throughout a module, identifying what to work on. 

It may come in the form of a submitted plan that may inform next steps before planning and group discussion. 

It may be useful to discuss formative feedback with your module tutor, to clarify points and identify points for development. 

When you have received feedback it may be useful to complete a feedback action plan, so that you understand exactly what you need to work on and how you are going to do it. 

See the feedback action plan document below which provides some hints and tips to improve library search, academic writing and critical thinking skills. 

Peer feedback may take the form of group discussions in a seminar, arranging formal group work for a module or engaging in written formal observations of peers on your course. This may even be assessed. 

• When receiving peer feedback it is important to praise yourself and consider an action plan. 
• When giving feedback to peers, it is good practice to give a positive aspect of their work followed by some suggestions for improvement and concluding with another positive aspect for them to focus on. 

Watch the video below to discover more about giving feedback to peers. 

University of New South Wales Health (2019) Giving feedback. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa88vwvhR_U Accessed: (23 February 2024).