Feedback reduces the gap between where a student is now and where they need to be. In The Power of Feedback, John Hattie and Helen Timperley provide a model of feedback that is based on three questions:
Where am I going? (What are the goals?)
How am I going? (What progress is being made towards the goals?)
What is my next step? (What activities need to be undertaken to make better progress?)
As educators, a natural inclination might be to provide as much feedback as possible, covering a wide range of topics and skills. However, it is important to keep these three questions at the forefront while providing feedback. Doing so provides a measurable objective and keeps the amount of information manageable, while providing direction for next steps.