Micro-Feedback: The Key to Empowered Instructor Self-Improvement

Good feedback can be life-changing. For instructors it can completely reframe the way they think about their craft. In all areas of life, all of us give and receive feedback on an almost daily basis in one way or another. And well-delivered, compassionate, and actionable feedback can transform the ways we work or live our lives in big ways and small.

In education and learning environments especially, an observation, a piece of feedback, a kind word can be the difference between an important piece of knowledge being transferred and the message getting lost.

Yet how much crucial feedback comes too late or is left unsaid entirely because there wasn’t a way to express it? That is where micro-feedback comes in.

The end of course is often too late

In most educational environments, the main source of feedback and insight into the learner experience comes from surveys conducted after the course has ended.

Low participation rates and fear of grade impact often result in end-of-course surveys with limited, biased feedback. Learners may withhold concerns or unleash pent-up criticisms, skewing results.

Consequently, instructors receive feedback that’s difficult to act upon, only allowing for improvements in future course iterations rather than benefiting current learners.

Timely, actionable feedback is crucial for immediate course improvements. Micro-feedback offers a solution, allowing instructors to gather insights throughout the learning process and make real-time adjustments to benefit current learners.

What is “micro-feedback”?

Micro-feedback is a dynamic approach to gathering insights and understanding the learner experience throughout a course.

Unlike traditional end-of-course evaluations, it involves collecting frequent, bite-sized feedback through light-weight, anonymous surveys that capture learners’ experiences in real-time. This method allows instructors to make immediate adjustments, addressing concerns and improving content delivery on the fly.

For learners, micro-feedback provides a consistent channel to voice their thoughts, fostering engagement and a sense of ownership in their education. Creating a responsive learning environment where learners feel heard and instructors can continuously refine their teaching methods.

This iterative process not only enhances the current learning experience but also contributes to long-term professional growth for educators.

Implementing micro-feedback: A step-by-step approach

Putting micro-feedback into practice requires a little planning, but the benefits can begin to be felt from the first session.

The first step is to sign-up for a student response software or surveying tool like Mentimeter. These tools are often free to get started — as is the case with Mentimeter — with surveys for micro-feedback that are lightweight to set-up and simple for learners to respond to.

Once you have identified what you would like to measure — this can include:

pace of content delivery
accessibility of material
and whether there was enough practical work vs. theory

among other dimensions — you can plan out “feedback windows” where you want to collect micro feedback. We suggest:

Orientation
Setting expectations and collaboration
Session-to-Session Feedback
Real-time insights for making informed adjustments
Midpoint Check-in
Refreshing expectations and conversation on how the course is going
Pre-assessment Feedback
Addressing concerns and clarifying the outlook
Post-course Reflection
Preparing for future iterations of the course

This framework should provide ample opportunities for feedback from learners, and for instructors to reflect on their performance and make informed adjustments.

The impact of micro-feedback on professional growth

So why is micro-feedback such a useful tool for instructors to use when self-assessing?

Micro-feedback provides instructors with a powerful tool for self-assessment and continuous improvement. By receiving regular, timely insights into their teaching effectiveness, instructors can make data-driven decisions to enhance their methods.

This iterative process allows for rapid experimentation and refinement, fostering a growth mindset and encouraging instructors to view their teaching as a constantly evolving craft.

Moreover, the frequent nature of micro-feedback helps instructors identify patterns and trends in learner responses, enabling them to address recurring issues promptly.

This not only improves the current course but also contributes to long-term professional development, as instructors build a repertoire of effective teaching strategies.

Organizational success through micro-feedback

The benefits of micro-feedback extend beyond individual instructors to the broader educational institution. By aggregating feedback data across multiple courses and instructors, institutions can gain valuable insights into overall teaching effectiveness and learner satisfaction.

This wealth of data enables data-driven decision-making in course design and curriculum development. Institutions can identify best practices, pinpoint areas for improvement, and allocate resources more effectively.

For example, if multiple courses consistently receive feedback about the need for more practical applications, the institution might invest in developing hands-on learning opportunities or updating lab facilities.

Furthermore, the implementation of micro-feedback demonstrates an institution’s commitment to continuous improvement and student-centered learning, potentially enhancing its reputation and attracting more students.

Overcoming challenges in implementing micro-feedback

While the benefits of micro-feedback are clear, implementation can face some challenges. Time constraints are often cited as a barrier, with instructors concerned about the additional workload.

However, modern student response systems like Mentimeter make the process quick and efficient, often taking just a few minutes per session.

Technology adoption can be another hurdle, particularly for instructors who are less tech-savvy. To address this, institutions can provide training sessions and ongoing support. It’s also crucial to choose user-friendly tools that integrate seamlessly into existing teaching practices.

Some instructors may worry about “survey fatigue” among learners. This can be mitigated by keeping surveys short, varying questions, and clearly communicating how the feedback is being used to improve the course.

The future of feedback in education

As education continues to evolve, micro-feedback aligns perfectly with emerging trends such as personalized learning and adaptive teaching. The real-time nature of micro-feedback supports these approaches by providing instructors with the information they need to tailor their teaching to individual learner needs.

Looking ahead, the integration of AI and machine learning with micro-feedback systems holds exciting possibilities. AI could analyze feedback data to identify patterns and suggest interventions, freeing up instructors to focus on implementing improvements.

Additionally, natural language processing could help extract deeper insights from open-ended feedback responses.

Conclusion

Micro-feedback represents a paradigm shift in how we approach teaching and learning. By providing a continuous stream of actionable insights, it empowers instructors to grow professionally and deliver more effective, engaging courses. For educational institutions, it offers a pathway to data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement.

As we navigate the ever-changing landscape of education, embracing micro-feedback can help ensure that our teaching methods remain relevant, effective, and responsive to learner needs.

Whether you’re an individual instructor or part of a larger institution, now is the time to reconsider your approach to feedback. The future of education is adaptive, responsive, and data-informed – and micro-feedback is the key to unlocking this potential.

One final thing

If you would like to learn more about how you can take a fresh approach to feedback in learning and education, our guide Fresh Feedback 101 is available to download for free here.

Written for OEB Global 2024 by the team at Mentimeter.