How Constructive feedback contributes towards the Level 3 Award in Education and Training (AET)

Within the Level 3 Award in Education and Training (AET), we talk about constructive feedback all the time. As a teacher, I have to give you constructive feedback and it has its time and place. And if I lost you, its called a praise sandwich so you might be familiar with this term. Whether you are teacher, trainer, assessor, manager or business owner, we all lead busy lives and we tend to just give feedback when the learner or the employee gets something wrong. I completely understand this, the phrase ‘no news is good news’ has a valid reasoning behind it, after all, your doing a good job so you don’t need feedback. But the problem is, by just giving negative feedback, you are destroying the learners or the employee’s confidence and self-esteem.

Level 3 Award in Education and Training feedback

If you were luck enough to study the Level 3 Award in Education and Training (AET) with me, you would receive regular feedback throughout your training, verbally and via written means. This means feedback when we are having a discussion, maybe you are giving answers or summarising concepts or feedback planning your microteach session, or even feedback after your microteach session. You are not expected to get everything right first time and very few individuals do. Feedback is the information regarding progress and achievement.

Level 3 Award in Education and Training Progress

When you undertake the Level 3 Award in Education and Training (AET), you will need to know how you are progressing, and what you have achieved. Constructive feedback, which is starting with a positive aspect, giving a development point in the middle attending with a positive is a way of giving feedback whilst motivating your learner which will then lead to an improvement. If feedback wasn’t positive and we pull up everything that a learner didn’t do too well, we are causing a negative cycle and we will effectively be ruining their confidence, self-esteem and motivation and ultimately the learner will give up if they feel like they cannot achieve, and we are not reminding them of their qualities and achievements.

Level 3 Award in Education and Training verbal feedback

I always give feedback in the Level 3 Award in Education and Training (AET) verbally, immediately, when possible, to reinforce a point. Let’s say we are having a discussion about icebreakers, the learner gives an example of what an icebreaker is and how they would run an icebreaker to their class. I will give feedback immediately to how appropriate it is, the benefits of it and give developmental points where needed. The advantage of giving feedback immediately allows the learner to make the required changes sooner rather than later and then to discuss any concerns immediately. This will lower the chances of having to resubmit work and will be better understood. When portfolios are submitted, I will give feedback after the assessment. Typically, each question that needs to be resubmitted will have constructive feedback where questions that meet the learning outcomes will receive feedback emphasising key points. First and foremost, feedback will boost your learner’s confidence and motivation. As previously mentioned, it will also create creates opportunities for clarification and discussion. Constructive feedback is to give development feedback to improve so emphasises progress rather than failure. It will give your learner a clear indication of what they need to do to improve and will identify further learning opportunities or actions required.