Feedback Strategies

I read the articles

The Difference Between Praise and Feedback

and

Specific Feedback that Helps Learning

My biggest thing with feedback is being specific about it.  My favorite of the articles I read was Specific Feedback that Helps Learning because I couldn't agree more with it.  Feedback should, in my opinion, contain two major points.  It should include the best part of the person's work and how they did it right, and the other is the worst part of the person's work and how they might improve.  This gives much more perspective for the student looking to see how a teacher/peer sees their work.  Feedback is supposed to help grow a person, thus focusing on what they do best and worst gives them both worlds.  Not only will they do what they do well, but they will do better at what they don'd do well at.

I am also a huge believer in process praise.  A student that isn't challenging themselves should not be praised by their effort, because there was very little effort.  Praise for work is the best praise.  At the end of the day, it doesn't matter how gifted a student is, it is how willing they are to keep improving themselves!

Praise picture: sourced via Pixabay

Feedback Thoughts

The Psychology of Comparison and How to Stop

This stood out to me because it is probably one of the weaker parts of my character.  I know I am doing well in life, and I could easily spend an entire day thinking and admiring all of my accomplishments, but I can sometimes get addicted to success.  After working hard on a project, accomplishing it, getting to the point where I kept telling myself I would be happy once I got there, I look upward.  No matter how well I might be doing, I have always had the tendency to look at some of the greatest minds out there such as Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, Joe Rogan, Alex Shulgin, the list goes on and on.  And this can be quite toxic for me or anyone that does it, because it sets the standard so high that no matter what you accomplish there will always be something you feel like you suck at.  The worst part is that it is never very useful to compare yourself to someone else, especially if they are famous for being one of the greatest that has ever lived.  It is much more productive to compare yourself to yourself and keep your focus on progressing at the rate which you can while staying happy.  This article was refreshing and gave some really amazing tips!

5 Tips For Taking Feedback Like a Champ

I enjoyed this article because the message was to simply just relax and not take the criticism personally. It really is okay and normal to feel bad or embarrassed by criticism, especially if it is harsh, but taking it as a "state, not trait" and simply relaxing yourself and understand where you can do better is not only a more pleasant experience, but a more productive one. Keeping a calm and collected mind when taking criticism can really help people work out the kinks in their personal and professional lives!

Consume Criticism found via Flickr