You are absolutely right that it matters when the feedback is given! The eAssessment systems that we use at the UK Open University provide options to give feedback whilst the student is doing the question or after they complete the quiz. The modules I am involved with all give feedback as the student is doing the question – there is more on this if you click on the ‘eAssessment at the Open University’ link on the right-hand side of the blog.

We sometimes tell students their mark when they have finished the quiz (sometimes immediately afterwards, sometimes – when in summative use – after a delay whilst the grade is ratified, and sometimes not at all). There is a not a direct correlation between us TELLING the student their mark (i.e. how well they did overall) with whether the mark counts towards their overall score (i.e. whether the assessment is summative). I hope this makes sense – it is very difficult to explain!

thanks for your interest

best wishes

Sally

What an interesting post. I really like this sort of data. However, I do not really grasp when feedback and grade are provide in de iCMAs. Do I get it right that for diagnostic and formative use, no grade is provided and with summative testing the grade is provided? And is feedback provided after finishing the complete test or after answering each question? This all is sort of relevant.

For the rest I would like to point you to an interesting article on feedback that you can relate your finding to. You would be surprised that your finding is quit interesting.

Hattie, J., & Timperley, H. (2007). The Power of Feedback. Review of Educational Research, 77(1), 81-112. doi:10.3102/003465430298487

Kind regards,

Silvester