TY - JOUR

T1 - Characteristics of productive feedback encounters in online learning

AU - Jensen, Lasse X.

AU - Bearman, Margaret

AU - Boud, David

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - Understanding how students engage with feedback is often reduced to a study of feedback messages that sheds little light on effects. Using the emerging notion of feedback encounters as an analytical lens, this study examines what characterizes productive feedback encounters when learning online. Drawing from a cross-national digital ethnographic dataset, a qualitative analysis categorized feedback encounters within this dataset: While most encounters led to instrumental impacts without any significant reflections, students also engaged in encounters with more substantive impact on learning. The latter took place under two conditions. First, the encounter must challenge the student's assumptions about their work, and they must be able and willing to accept this challenge. Second, the encounter must take place at a time which is appropriate in relation to whichever task the student is currently working on. This highlights design considerations, such as importance of social interactions, and the instrumental enactments of self-generated feedback.

AB - Understanding how students engage with feedback is often reduced to a study of feedback messages that sheds little light on effects. Using the emerging notion of feedback encounters as an analytical lens, this study examines what characterizes productive feedback encounters when learning online. Drawing from a cross-national digital ethnographic dataset, a qualitative analysis categorized feedback encounters within this dataset: While most encounters led to instrumental impacts without any significant reflections, students also engaged in encounters with more substantive impact on learning. The latter took place under two conditions. First, the encounter must challenge the student's assumptions about their work, and they must be able and willing to accept this challenge. Second, the encounter must take place at a time which is appropriate in relation to whichever task the student is currently working on. This highlights design considerations, such as importance of social interactions, and the instrumental enactments of self-generated feedback.

KW - Feedback

KW - feedback encounter

KW - digital ethnography

KW - online learning

KW - higher education

U2 - 10.1080/13562517.2023.2213168

DO - 10.1080/13562517.2023.2213168

M3 - Journal article

JO - Teaching in Higher Education

JF - Teaching in Higher Education

SN - 1356-2517

ER -