This post explores what effective feedback in education looks like and why principals and specialists should seek it out rather than be afraid of receiving it. You'll discover how school leadership can get feedback from teachers to identify areas needing improvement, enhance performance, and set goals during the school year or before a new one starts! The featured download is a SMART Goal Map which be used by principals, specialists, and teachers to map out goals that will impact the whole school community in a positive way.
Download the SMART Goal Map now!
Let's be honest, asking for feedback from colleagues is not the easiest thing to do. I find myself to be my own worst critic, so I do not know why I am always so nervous about asking my co-workers for feedback on how I'm doing as the Literacy Specialist. I think the idea of someone else “judging” us or our work is what makes most of us nervous about putting ourselves out there.
Here is where many of us operate under the misguided notion about what effective feedback in education is and what it is not.
Effective feedback should not include judgments or advice. A judgment is an opinion about a person or their work. Advice would include recommendations on how to do something.
According to Grant Wiggins, effective feedback is, "information about how we are doing in our efforts to reach a goal."
I subscribe to this definition of effective feedback because it focuses on reaching a goal. Feedback does not include judgments or advice, but rather focuses on a person's attempt(s) to attain a goal. In Seven Keys to Effective Feedback by Grant Wiggins he explains the seven essentials to “effective feedback.”
Helpful feedback is:
Goal-referenced
Tangible and transparent
Actionable
User-friendly
Timely
Ongoing
Consistent
Even though Wiggins wrote about how teachers can get effective feedback for students, the same strategies apply when school leadership is looking to get feedback from teachers.
Using SMART Goals, principals and specialists can also use the effective feedback strategies discussed above with their staff!
STRATEGY 1: SET A 'SMART' GOAL
Begin the school year by letting your staff know that you will be looking for feedback from them throughout the year. Explain that this feedback will be based on a personal goal of yours. Be sure to have your goal ready to share with the staff.
Your goal should be specific (S) to you, it should be measurable (M), and it should be reasonably attainable (A). You should also choose a goal that is realistic (R). Finally, your goal should be timely (T).
Even though it is a personal goal for you, if attained it should impact the whole school community in a positive way.
STRATEGY 2: BE TRANSPARENT
Explain your goal and WHY you chose that goal to work on. My best administrators have been the ones that really make themselves vulnerable and available to their staff. They are the ones that can say, "This is what I am working on it and this is why I need to work on it." I find these are the principals that develop the best rapport with their staff.
STRATEGY 3: MAKE YOUR GOAL ACTIONABLE
Tell your staff what your plan is to reach this goal. Be sure to think about the steps and actions that will enable you to reach your goal. Explain to the staff that they will be the ones holding you accountable for following through with your action plan.
STRATEGY 4: USER-FRIENDLY IS A MUST
Feedback for goal attainment must be easy to use or your staff will be reluctant to use it. You may want to gather feedback by using a rubric with a checklist, a brief form, an online survey, and so on. The more user-friendly a feedback vehicle is, the better.
STRATEGY 5 AND 6: TIMELY AND ONGOING
Do not wait until the end of the year to ask for feedback. Feedback should be timely (T), so ask your staff to fill out your checklist, form, or survey periodically throughout the year. They may also send you feedback as they see you taking steps or actions towards your goal. Note that your action plan may need to be adjusted based on initial and ongoing feedback.
STRATEGY 7: ASK FOR CONSISTENCY
Effective feedback needs to be consistent, accurate, and trustworthy. Let your staff know that you do not expect anything less from them than honesty. It is their honest feedback that will help you attain your goal.
Research has shown that effective feedback in education can have a significant impact on achievement. The best way to enhance performance and achieve goals is to seek feedback from teachers and those around us who are knowledgeable and trustworthy.
Available for download is the SMART Goal Map. This planning sheet can be used by almost any professional for mapping out the road to successful goal attainment.