III. Effective Feedback Characteristics
Focused on Effort and Strategy, Not Ability
Effective teaching and learning in a PA program involves providing feedback that focuses on effort and strategy rather than innate ability. Intermediate educators in the program understand the importance of motivating students to adopt effective learning strategies and cultivate a growth mindset through feedback. Advanced educators in the program excel in providing feedback that nurtures a growth mindset and encourages students to see challenges as opportunities for improvement.
BASIC Information
Definition: This type of feedback emphasizes the importance of hard work, dedication, and effective learning strategies in achieving success. It avoids attributing outcomes solely to inherent talent or lack thereof.
Importance: Focusing on effort and strategy encourages students to believe in their capacity to improve through dedication and learning from experiences. In a PA program, feedback might emphasize the value of consistently practicing clinical assessments rather than labeling a student's performance as solely a result of their innate abilities.
INTERMEDIATE Information
Definition: At this level, feedback is crafted to highlight the relationship between effort, strategic approaches, and successful outcomes. Educators acknowledge that mastery is achievable through perseverance and smart learning techniques.
Importance: Focusing on effort and strategy fosters a sense of agency in students, empowering them to take responsibility for their learning journey. In a PA program, educators might discuss the value of deliberate practice in enhancing clinical skills, emphasizing the role of consistent effort.
ADVANCED Information
Definition: Advanced feedback of this nature not only emphasizes effort and strategy but also guides students in identifying specific learning approaches that align with their strengths. Educators help students refine their strategies for optimal results.
Importance: Advanced educators understand that students' abilities can be developed through targeted practice and effective strategies. In a PA program, they might provide detailed insights into how different clinical reasoning approaches can lead to enhanced diagnostic accuracy based on individual strengths.
Effort-Strategy Feedback Strategies: Use growth-oriented language that acknowledges progress, even if outcomes are not yet ideal. Educators highlight incremental improvement to motivate students.
Strength-Based Approaches: Advanced educators identify each student's unique strengths and suggest strategies that leverage those strengths. They discuss how specific skills and qualities contribute to effective patient care.
Metacognition Promotion: Encourage students to reflect on their learning strategies and recognize how adopting different approaches can lead to varied outcomes. Advanced educators facilitate discussions on how different strategies align with different clinical scenarios.