Evaluation of alternative feedback mechanisms on student engagement with assessment feedback

Abstract

This study examined students' perceptions of the usefulness of assessment feedback provided by ReMarksPDF and provides a summary of positive and negative aspects of different types of feedback annotations. Students randomly received one of 7 different combinations of feedback. 74.9% of students found ReMarksPDF feedback better than that they have received in the past and 73.2% of students agreed or strongly agreed that other units should adopt the ReMarksPDF system. Students found the mark tally table, assessment rubric, spider chart, spider chart (with average), colour coding and smileys to be significantly valuable feedback in that order of preference. Females gave higher ratings than males on all feedback types, except spider charts, which were equally highly rated by males. Respondents indicated that ReMarksPDF feedback was easy to read and understand and that it was beneficial to have comments appear in a side column note.