Connecting Feedback With Learning Objectives
Effective feedback requires that students are aware of their goals and are provided with actionable steps to achieve them. This article explains how to align your feedback with specific learning objectives to support student growth.
Before You Start
- Learning objectives can take the form of standards, competencies, or curricular strands.
- Objectives should be explicitly taught before students are assessed on them.
- Ensure the assessment task is directly linked to the intended learning objective.
The Feedback Framework
When providing feedback on an assessment, focus on connecting your comments directly to the learning objective. Use the following three questions to guide your response:
Question | Focus |
|---|---|
What has been achieved? | Identify the specific parts of the learning objective the student has already mastered. |
What is missing? | Pinpoint exactly where the student's work falls short of the objective. |
What are the next steps? | Provide clear, actionable instructions on how the student can gain proficiency in this specific objective. |
Good to Know
- Aligning feedback with objectives helps students understand the "why" behind their assessment.
- Actionable next steps are the most critical part of the feedback loop for student improvement.
- For more information on providing feedback, see How can I provide feedback on student posts?.
Updated on: 06/08/2026
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