Do feedback strategies improve students' learning gain? Results of a randomized experiment using polling technology in physics classrooms

Francois Molin*, Carla Haelermans, Sofie Cabus, Wim Groot

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

In this paper we study if feedback strategies during formative assessment with polling technology have an impact on learning gains. We conduct a randomized experiment in physics class in upper secondary education with the web-based polling system Socrative comparing three conditions. In the cooperative condition students receive a combination of peer discussion and teacher feedback, while in the individual condition they receive only teacher feedback. In the control condition students do not receive any feedback, from either teacher or peers. To measure what individuals learn from teacher feedback, whether or not combined with peer discussions, students in all three conditions individually
answer paired isomorphic multiple-choice questions. Per question, we study the probability to answer the second isomorphic question correct and compare this between conditions The analyses show that teacher feedback, regardless of the peer discussions, positively affects learning gains in question pairs of the treatment conditions in comparison with the control condition. However, the cooperative condition shows that the largest learning gains occur when peer discussion is followed by teacher feedback. The findings provide insights into which feedback strategies affect learning gains in question pairs and are important for teachers when implementing feedback strategies during formative assessments.
Original languageEnglish
Article number104339
Number of pages16
JournalComputers & Education
Volume175
Early online date23 Sept 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2021

Keywords

  • Physics
  • Polling systems
  • Secondary education
  • feedback strategies
  • learning gain
  • AUDIENCE RESPONSE SYSTEMS
  • PERFORMANCE
  • RETENTION
  • FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
  • PEER INSTRUCTION
  • MOTIVATION
  • Feedback strategies
  • INTERVENTIONS
  • CLICKER QUESTIONS
  • ENGAGEMENT
  • DISCUSSIONS
  • Learning gain

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