Teach Middle East Magazine Sep-Oct 2017 Issue 1 Volume 5 | Page 33

into small doses, so progress feels attainable and within reach. Educators must create a regular feedback and practice loop that supports continuous development. Delivering feedback on every writing exercise in this way is time-consuming. Given the heavy workloads teachers already have, when will they possibly find the time? It’s neither sustainable nor scalable, for teachers to use their planning and grading time for the sole purpose of delivering feedback. To put it simply, students need feedback, to write better, and teachers want to give it, but don’t have the bandwidth. We don’t have a silver bullet or a DeLorean Time Machine—when it comes to feedback, but here are some best practices to keep in mind. First, be as specific as possible. It’s tempting to tell students that portions of their essays are “awkward” or “vague.” Resist the urge! Rather, state why a sentence is awkward and suggest concrete ways to improve it. Second, find a way to deliver feedback immediately. Tools such as Turnitin’s Revision Assistant, offer a potential solution. Revision Assistant is an online program that improves student writing and engagement. Students receive automated, personalized, and relevant feedback as they respond to standards-aligned reading and writing tasks. Finally, remove the fear from feedback. Make sure students understand that getting feedback is a good thing. Revision Assistant’s impersonal, constructive feedback never makes students feel judged or self-conscious. In fact, with Revision Assistant’s feedback, students are even more comfortable approaching their teacher with questions. Thus, the teacher becomes a partner, a Doc Brown to their Marty McFly, in the writing process. The right feedback can lead to a more successful future for students. Students Write More and Write Better with Turnitin Revision Assistant Improve Learning Outcomes Support Teachers in the Classroom Engage Students in the Writing Process Discover Revision Assistant go.turnitin.com/middle-east Revision Assistant made a dramatic impact on my students’ writing. I write better with Revision Assistant... it makes my writing sound more clear. — TC Niemann, High School Teacher — Guadalupe, Student