Activity: generate feedback statements

Before proceeding with this activity, just let me reiterate that I don't think you should use GenAI to read student work and generate grades and feedback. Apart from not being sure what is happening to the student work from a data protection point of view, these systems are basically just probability generators and do not understand humans and what we ask students to do. 

But why not use GenAI to generate feedback comments which you can draw from while you are grading? Generating comments means that you have a bank of comments which are adapted to your learning outcomes and grading rubric, and which can be designed to be constructive and actionable - both things which can take time to craft and can slow you down while grading. Note that in the activity below, the instruction is clearly that the feedback should not justify the grade. One of the purposes of a good grading rubric is to provide justification in itself, by letting you highlight the areas in the rubric which the student has achieved. 

As usual, you can choose a GenAI tool to try this with, such as one those listed  on on this page.. Then write a prompt something like this, depending on what you want to do: 

If you have already generated a marking rubric in the same 'conversation' with the GenAI tool: 

"Using the rubric you just created, please generate a bank of feedback comments which would be suitable for use by the teacher whilst grading. These comments should not justify the grade but should offer suggestions for future development. Since this assignment is near the end of a qualification, the feedback should also address the students' future professional life." 

If you are using an existing rubric, either pasted in, or uploaded if the tool you are using allows it: 

"I am pasting in below/uploading a grading rubric for students at level XX. Please generate a bank of feedback comments which would be suitable for use by the teacher whilst grading. These comments should not justify the grade but should offer suggestions for future development. Since this assignment is near the end of a qualification, the feedback should also address the students' future professional life." 

For the example on the marking rubric page, this is the output I got: 

Feedback Bank for Team-Based HRM Problem-Solving Report

  1. Collaboration and Teamwork
    • "Consider working on enhancing your communication skills for better teamwork. In a professional setting, clear and effective communication is key to successful collaboration."
    • "In future projects, try to take on more leadership roles within your team. Showing initiative and guiding your team can be a valuable asset in your career."
    • "You have demonstrated good teamwork skills. Going forward, continue to build on this strength by actively seeking diverse perspectives within your team."
  2. Understanding of the HRM Problem
    • "To deepen your understanding of HRM issues, engage more with current industry trends and case studies. This will prepare you for real-world HR challenges."
    • "Your grasp of the HRM problem is commendable. Continue to hone this analytical skill, as it will be invaluable in diagnosing and solving workplace issues."
  3. Quality of Analysis and Solution
    • "Focus on developing more critical thinking skills. In your career, you'll often need to analyze complex situations and propose effective solutions."
    • "Your ability to analyze and solve problems is on the right track. Further develop this skill by challenging yourself with more complex scenarios in your field."
  4. Report Presentation and Writing Quality
    • "Improving your report writing skills, including attention to detail and clarity, will significantly benefit your professional documentation and communication."
    • "Your writing skills are impressive. Maintain this level of professionalism in your reports as clear communication is crucial in any business environment."
  5. Use of Evidence and References
    • "In your future role, always back up your proposals and reports with strong evidence and research. This adds credibility to your work."
    • "Your effective use of evidence and references is a strength. Continue to apply this rigor in your professional life, as it will support your arguments and proposals."
  6. General Professional Development
    • "Consider engaging in continuous learning opportunities, such as workshops or certifications, to stay updated in your field."
    • "Networking within your industry can provide valuable insights and opportunities. Make connections and learn from peers and mentors."
    • "Reflect on your experiences in team projects and consider how these lessons can be applied in a workplace setting to enhance team dynamics and project outcomes."

This isn't quite enough for me, as it doesn't provide a wide range of examples for each grading band. Also, some of the feedback is not fully actionable - for instance, telling students to make connections isn't quite enough, they would need guidance on how to do it. However, it is a good start in terms of ideas and could be refined. Writing good feedback is pretty challenging and time-consuming, so having a bank of examples can be really useful. Of course you can personalise individual comments as you use them.