How to give Feedback with limited time

1. Use different forms of feedback. 
Think carefully about when you integrate which form of feedback. Individual written feedback is the most intensive, while plenary feedback or peer feedback can also be very effective. 

2. Let the students determine what they receive feedback on. 
Ask the student to ask specific feedback questions, select assessment criteria or write a reflection. This increases the responsibility of students and saves yourself time.  

3. Use a timer. 
Before you start giving feedback, consider what a realistic amount of time per student might be, and set a timer to encourage yourself to stick within your time limit. 

4. Read the entire piece first and then describe the most important comments. 
If you immediately start giving feedback while reading, you are inclined to post many comments at a detailed level. By first reading the entire piece and then making approximately 3 general comments, you focus only on the most important points.  

5. As you read, put your comments in a separate document. 
After this, you can select the comments that are most important for the student to address. This prevents ‘feedback overload‘, where students process minimal feedback. 

6. Use codes for common feedback comments. 
You can make a list of comments that you often post and link codes to them. When giving feedback, you use these codes and the students can look up their meaning themselves. Read more?