Mind the Gap

Why does feedback work?

Ask a musician, a woodworker, an artist, a welder - anyone who produces something - and they can tell you.  These people were raised on feedback.  Every time you create something, you are inviting feedback.  But why does feedback work?

Because feedback calls attention to a gap. Feedback draws attention to something that is a distance ahead or a distance behind what we usually expect.  Feedback directs attention to close the gap; to motivate. Feedback calls attention to where you could go next, towards your process, towards your (mis)understandings (Hattie, adapted from p. 115).  Once you see a gap, it's almost impossible to ignore.

I'm sure you've seen this image before of "Information" versus "Knowledge".
But this time, don't look at the dots.  Look at the gaps between the dots.

I suggest that the gaps between "Information" and "Knowledge" is feedback.

Feedback is what fills in the gaps - makes the connections - and creates knowledge.  If a teacher or coach does not provide feedback, a student will fill in the gaps with his/her own feedback, and that is when students can create misunderstandings.

Why do we encourage students to create "connections" and "self-talk" in early school years?  Because these are early forms of feedback.  Thinking about thinking.  Being self-critical and connecting the gaps from an early age.

Teachers need to be creators of feedback opportunities.  And more importantly, students need to become creators of feedback opportunities so they continue to learn and grow.