Responsible Grading: The Importance of Constructive Feedback

Grading is a key aspect of faculty responsibilities. However, how do faculty turn what may seem, to some, a mundane task into an opportunity to provide vital, effective, and meaningful feedback to students? This general session seeks to explore the necessity of providing effective and consistent feedback in online humanities courses, which not only makes grading more efficient for the instructor, but also may minimize student concerns regarding grades. As classes both on ground and online are unbundled, this reflects growing concerns about the application of classroom learning to the workforce as well as how students receive feedback in the classroom; providing effective and consistent feedback cultivates engagement in online undergraduate courses, and empowers students to continue pursuing college courses (and subsequently, creates more marketable candidates for the workforce). As a point of emphasis, the presenters will use case studies from one course at Kaplan University, “Humanities and Culture”. As part of this presentation, the presenters seek to encourage conversation regarding effective and meaningful positive feedback in online education, as well as how the trifecta of clear learning objectives, assigned reading and writing activities, and meaningful feedback leads to confident students, particularly in humanities courses.