5.5 Feedback and feedforward
The comments added to a marked script tend to feedback to the student regarding what was correct and where they lost marks. As well as marking the student’s script, tutors also complete a summary form for each student. The summary form can be used to summarise the feedback on a script but can also effectively be used to feed forward.
The summary form complements the feedback given on a script and can be used to add more general study points and advice. When marking, it is recommended to check any previous summary forms and then to refer back to previous advice where relevant.
It is important to be positive in comments on the summary form as students receive their TMAs back in electronic form and can choose which file to open first. We don’t want them to be deterred from even looking at the marked script after reading the assessment summary form. It is a good idea to praise effort, rather than the actual assignment score.
This summary form example is encouraging and supportive, and ends on a positive note:
"Hi,
Well done for getting through TMA03, I can see you have put a lot of work into it.
The presentation of your assignment is much better, although I did find question 1 hard to follow. You seem to have made it more complicated than it needs to be.
The task was to have a discussion with the other students and simply to include two of your postings in your solution document, one making a new point and one responding to other students. You then needed to summarise the discussion giving what you felt were the four main points made and then a single sentence saying how you felt Unit 11 helped you discuss the topic.
I found it hard to work out which part of the question you were answering. Please see my comments in your solution document for more details.
You made some good attempts at the programming questions, but I think you got a little confused about what it was supposed to do in places. It's always a good idea to read through the entire question first and then to tackle it. You will find that the parts of the question lead you through the coding process.
Also, if you are unsure about what to submit or what is required then do email me and ask for clarification (see my notes in your solution document).
There were a few places where you picked out the points that needed to be addressed in your answer... and then wrote an answer that didn't cover them, for example in Q2 ii.
If you have any questions at all then please do not hesitate to contact me and I hope you'll be able to make it to my next tutorial on the 4th of April.
Keep it up, only two more assignments to go!
Cheers
Activity 4 
Can you think of other possible ways to encourage students on an assignment summary form?
5.4 Skills of providing feedback