Improving Assessments: Reflective Approach to Feedback & Feedforward

This essay explores the significance of reflective learning in higher education, utilizing Gibbs' model to understand personal learning experiences. It emphasizes the importance of self-assessment, critical thinking, and evaluating new learning for perspective change. The essay delves into the ...Read More

ORIENTATION FOR
SUCCESS IN HIGHER
EDUCATION

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
1. Importance of reflective approach with the help of Gibbs model...........................................3
2. Nature of feedback and feedforward by using a Gibbs model.................................................4
3. How can reflective approach to feedforward and feedback can inform and improve future
summative and formative assessments........................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
Reflective learning is defined as a form of education in which students reflect upon their
personal learning experiences. It is a complex and intentional process that helps in recognizing
the role of social experience and context. It aims at creation of meaning in terms of self which
leads to a change in perspective. The key concepts in reflective learning are self-assessment,
evaluating the new learning and critical thinking. This essay aims at understanding the
significance of reflective approach with the help of Gibbs model of reflection, describing the
nature of feedback and feedforward with the help of the Gibbs model and demonstrate the ability
to use feedback and feedforward as integral to improve and inform future summative and
formative assessments.
MAIN BODY
1. Importance of reflective approach with the help of Gibbs model
Gibbs' model is an effective approach to work through an experience which can be either
be a situation or a stand-alone experience which a person goes through frequently. One of the
benefits about this model is the acknowledgement of the significance of feelings in reflection. It
contains six stages which helps in separating out evaluation. The six stages are as follows:
In my college days I got an experience of learning the crucial skills such as creative
writing, decision making, time management etc. These skills were helpful and beneficial in
building my overall personality and had a major effect on my development as an individual
(Bitencourt-Ferreira and de Azevedo, 2018). The higher education days were helpful in
developing my cognitive ability and work on create ideas which are helpful in improving my
problem solving skills.
I had a feeling of fear and anxiety while I started learning in my college because at the
starting they were difficult to understand and had a negative effect on my confidence. With time
I had a feeling of pride and self-confidence when I got a good command at these skills as it
developed my personality and improved the way I used to deal with people (Mezirow, 2018). I
felt satisfied after a I was able to improve my outcome in the tasks performed by establishing
these skills in my personality.
These skills were helpful in the development of my behaviour and the reason for my
success in dealing with people effectively. The major benefit in the process were support from

my peers and tutors in the academic learning. By evaluating it completely I found that it was a
good experience in my learning process as everyone around encouraged me to move forward and
stay away from distractions. At first, I was less confident and was finding difficulties in
managing the pressure but it was a matter of time which helped me to grow and see positive
results.
The major reason of development of these skills was my inability to perform in the exams
and competitions which resulted in reduction of my self confidence and belief (Perusso,
Blankesteijn and Leal, 2020). I decided to develop the crucial skills such as decision making and
time management to improve my performing ability and delivering better results. It had a
positive effect on my overall outlook towards problems and I started enjoying the learning
process which was hectic for me in the starting.
By getting knowledge about the important skills and methods to improve my personality
in the higher education days I was able to learn the importance of self analysis and management.
It has a major change in my personality and resulted in my development which helped me to
perform better in my life. I am able to connect better with people now and understand the tasks
and roles assigned to me effectively (Budworth, Harrison and Chummar, 2019). I am able to
solve the tough problems within the time constrains which are allotted to me during exams or
interviews etc. It has a major effect on my focus and dedication as I make self initiatives to
complete the tasks effectively after learning.
I would prepare a plan to go a step higher and gain expertise over the skills I learned
during the course which will help in developing my confidence over the skills and perform better
in complex tests and interviews. I will join separate courses of the individual skills in order to
understand the topic deeply and with full consideration to the level of difficulty on the particular
department. This can be helpful in increasing my expertise in these skills and perform with my
best potential towards the specific tasks.
2. Nature of feedback and feedforward by using a Gibbs model
Feedback is considered as an opportunity for people to gain, get and give insights to
someone about the improvements that can be done in order to better the things in the current
situation. It is beneficial for people to acknowledge what the current condition and level of the
problem that they are facing and what elements will help in achieving the success in them
(Salathé and et.al., 2018). It is a critical component of the learning process and its features

contributes in development of the problems and negative situations. It is helpful for people to
gain the important skills and improve effectively in order to be successful.
Feedforward focuses on the subsequent assessments and constructive guidance on how to
improve as an individual in performing critical tasks and motives. It is a provision of relevant
context of what people want to communicate before the communication established. This is
helpful for the people to enhance their decision making ability and performing skills.
The Gibbs model of reflection has been beneficial in understanding the importance of
feedback and feedforward as it has helped in increasing the accuracy and improving the time
management skills to see effective results in the personality. Both the factors have been
supportive to show the problems in the tasks and the personality to make effective changes and
improve to success. The model is descriptive and has provided relevant information for
understanding the process with ease and develop the important cognitive skills in order to
achieve success and improve the approach (Colomer and et.al., 2018). The feedbacks and
feedforwards are helpful in improving the ability to perform with full potential and get the best
results.
3. How can reflective approach to feedforward and feedback can inform and improve future
summative and formative assessments
The goal of feedback in the reflective learning is to assist the individual to enhance these
skills, knowledge, attitudes and behaviour which are relevant to the goals and objectives of the
educational program. The feedback should be constructive in order to see an effective change in
the personality of an individual. Feedforward is an educational strategy which focuses on
providing the individuals with exposure and practise with assessments in advance to clarify the
standards and expectations.
Formative assessments are tools which are used to identify misconceptions and struggles
of learning of the students and may help them to fill these gaps. The students can be encouraged
by the instructors with the help of reflective approach to feedforward and feedback to self assess
their own skills and retain their knowledge. The important feedbacks can help the individuals to
grow and achieve their goals effectively (Dahl, Peltier and Schibrowsky, 2018.). It can help the
individuals by having a positive effect on their self-esteem and beliefs which will be helpful in
getting the right opportunities to decrease the gap between the desired and the actual
performance.

Summative assessment evaluate knowledge, proficiency and learning at the conclusion of
the program or course. They are graded formally and can help the students to achieve the
expected outcome from their instructions and align with their goals. The reflective approach of
feedback and feedforward is helpful for the students for preparing for the future summative
assessments by improving their understanding and responsibility towards topics and courses
(Maeda and et.al., 2018). Feedbacks will be beneficial for the students to excel and make
parameters clear to perform better in the future.
CONCLUSION
On the basis of the above essay it has been concluded that reflective learning has been
helpful for the students to develop their cognitive skills and achieve better results than before. It
reflective approach to feedback and feedforward has been beneficial in identifying the mistakes
and suggesting the effective changes which has helped in the development of the personality and
the decision making ability of the students. It has also provided them to get more opportunities
and convert the best suitable of them towards their side. The reflective approach has helped in
informing and improving the future summative and formative assessments of the students. This
has been supportive to the students to enhance their academic and personal skills which may help
them to achieve growth and success in the future.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Bitencourt-Ferreira, G. and de Azevedo, W.F., 2018. Development of a machine-learning model
to predict Gibbs free energy of binding for protein-ligand complexes. Biophysical
chemistry. 240. pp.63-69.
Budworth, M.H., Harrison, J.A. and Chummar, S., 2019. Beyond feedback: understanding how
feedforward can support employee development. Journal of Management Development.
Colomer, J. and et.al., 2018. Evaluating knowledge and assessment-centered reflective-based
learning approaches. Sustainability. 10(9). p.3122.
Dahl, A.J., Peltier, J.W. and Schibrowsky, J.A., 2018. Critical thinking and reflective learning in
the marketing education literature: A historical perspective and future research needs
Journal of Marketing Education. 40(2). pp.101-116.
Maeda, R.S. and et.al., 2018. Feedforward and feedback control share an internal model of the
arm's dynamics. Journal of Neuroscience. 38(49). pp.10505-10514.
Mezirow, J., 2018. Transformative learning theory. In Contemporary theories of learning (pp.
114-128). Routledge.
Perusso, A., Blankesteijn, M. and Leal, R., 2020. The contribution of reflective learning to
experiential learning in business education. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher
Education. 45(7). pp.1001-1015.
Salathé, Y. and et.al., 2018. Low-latency digital signal processing for feedback and feedforward
in quantum computing and communication. Physical Review Applied. 9(3). p.034011.