How do communication practices in the online environment correlate to effective feedback?

In order to effectively communicate with students, my first step is to provide effective.  How will the students understand where they stand if I didn’t offer feedback regarding the concepts they are learning in the virtual classroom?  The students use this feedback to assess their existing knowledge.  I know first hand from my recent experience of completing and online Master’s degree just how important feedback is in the my success as a student.  Positive feedback is essential to a student’s success and contributes to a student’s confidence level, which directly affects student performance.  I also like to use this self-assessment tool once they receive feedback:

____I understand these results

____I know what to do next to learn more

____I can handle this

____I choose to keep trying

Why is authentic feedback important for online learners?

Providing students with authentic feedback is essential for student success.  I completed a study last year regarding the use of Blackboard Voice Board to improve speaking proficiency in the foreign language classroom, and found that using personalized feedback with the Voice Thread component was extremely beneficial to the students. They told me that it was encouraging to them and it motivated them to want to improve their speaking skills for the next assessment.  Providing authentic feedback is the key factor to student retention and completion of the class.  If a student is struggling and the teacher doesn’t provide authentic feedback, the student would not be motivated to succeed and would lack the motivation to persevere and complete the course. 

In what ways might an instructor enrich a student’s online experience through feedback?

Instructors can enrich a student’s online experience by creating a variety of communication methods using the numerous options available.  Using Smore, Voki, Goanimate, Make Beliefs Comix, Prezis, Blabberize, etc. (I could go on and on), instructors are able to communicate helpful information to all stakeholders.   When everyone is kept informed with time sensitive information, this helps to keep students on track, and affords them a clear understanding of what is expected of them. Instructors need to provide positive feedback for both successful and struggling students.  When struggling students know that the instructor truly cares about their success, they are motivated to try harder.  Effective communication methods promote positive relationships between instructors and their students. Another point to remember is that “timely” feedback is best and that is what I strive to provide.  I know how much I appreciate feedback in a timely manner and I make this a top priority for my students.