Electronic+Commenting

Presenter Site: @http://electronicfeedback.pbworks.com/

What is good feedback:
 * Clear
 * Context-specific
 * Timely
 * Gives students a sense of how to improve
 * Empowers students
 * Positive yet challenging.

You want to use technologies that support effect feedback. For example, if you use an audio feedback technology such as audacity, Blackboards voice recorder etc. your tone of voice if it sounds disapproving will not be empowering. You can use Camtasia for audio and video but files often large. Jing or VoiceThread can be accessed via a URL but you need to make sure you maintain privacy. With programs like Jing you can actually use the video to zero in on the part of the project you are commenting on.

Tools:
 * Rubistar
 * An easy way to give feedback in Word is to use the Building Blocks function. See Office Tutorial Site.
 * You could grade in EXCEL and then do a data merge with Word.

When you use something like building blocks (or other boiler plate text) you should explain how you use it to your students- be upfront. Sometimes they aren't as responsive if they figure it out on their own. The presenter found that they were understanding if you explain that you do customize it but this is a way to provide detailed and specific feedback to a large body of students.