6 Providing Effective Feedback

This course provides us all with an opportunity to give effective feedback to fellow facilitators.

Here are the feedback guidelines that we use in the FLO Fundamentals, which also apply to this course:

Feedback is essential to learning. It lets people know whether they are mastering the outcomes and indicates whether or not remedial or additional action is required. Feedback can also encourage learners to stretch and reach new heights. Feedback is like water or air for online learners; they need it to survive.

Feedback can be inspiring to learners. It can assist struggling learners who need more encouragement and positive reinforcement. It can also help learners better appreciate the specific strategies they need to use to improve their skill level or performance. Nevertheless, if not done with sensitivity, respect, and empathy, feedback can also be devastating. Poorly planned, or awkwardly phrased feedback can confuse and demoralize a learner.

To be effective, feedback should be constructive, concrete, and specific. Feedback should also be instructive. Like asking good questions, providing feedback also enables participants to reflect on their learning and determine possible follow-up actions and strategies.

Please, consult the straightforward advice in Suggestions for Giving Good Feedback before offering your feedback.

When it comes time to provide feedback on the session’s facilitation, take a few minutes to review any notes you kept during your experiences as a participant in the activity. Think about the lesson from your perspective as a learner. Ask yourself:

• What worked well for me?
• What helped me connect the online and in-person lesson elements?
• What could be changed or added to improve my learning?

For this course, you will be using the Facilitation Feedback FLO Blended document to provide feedback to the facilitators whose sessions you attend.