Exploring Impact of Teacher's Feedback on Learner's Learning Behavior at University Level

AbstractPresent study explores impact of teacher's feedback on learner's behavior at university level. Major objective of this research was to investigate how much learner's behavior at university level was affected by teacher's feedback. A questionnaire was designed and given to the students to observe impact of teacher's feedback on them and how it brings behavioral change among them. The respondents comprised of learners from social science, language and literature, science graduates and prospective teachers. Data received from the respondents showed that positive feedback from teachers at all levels acts as motivational force. Negative feedback or silence disturbs students. They are not able to work properly as they are not given proper guidance from the teacher. Since feedback makes classroom culture and environment more knowledgeable, it is recommended that teachers may provide timely feedback to the learners so that they may be able to work properly.Key Words: Feedback, tutor, study culture, learner, learning behavior, mpact.IntroductionWorldwide education is based on students learning outcomes (SLO) and teacher is focusing on interactive and activity based classrooms where learners are molded towards learning behavior. Role of teacher in modem world is that of a facilitator and guide who sets the stage, produces the action and remains as a silent observer; who observes, and provides feedback for learner's skill achievement. Merry (2008) comments on feedback that it is one of the most influential tools in learning and achievement, but its impact can be either positive or negative. Providing right kind of feedback to learners can produce difference in their achievement. According to Merry feedback is one of the best research based strategy that a teacher and a student can practice to improve the learning behavior. Importance of feedback as an element of teaching strategy is quite evident. In semester system where interaction of teacher and taught is continuous in its approach, feedback is quite necessary. Researchers have sorted out such relation while teaching and a lot of observation and experiments have been taken by the researchers to find out the impact of feedback on learner's behavior. Research has proved that feedback is part of the learning process. Formative assessment system only provides feedback on performance to improve and accelerate learning as it intends to provide grade or mark to judge cramming faculty of a learner while feedback carefully defines a useful contribution to learning. Effective and quality feedback is a key element of quality education. It seems quite clear that effective feedback may act as change element in learning behavior.This study was carried out among last semester learners. Questionnaires and observations were made with the help of quality enhancement cell (QEC) constituted in the universities of Punjab (Pakistan). Results of this study were also given to the respective departments and quality enhancement cells in the universities where this study was done.Literature ReviewImportance of feedback cannot be denied and its impact on learner is quite clear on the achievement of learners and their development of skills. Feedback may be divided into two types that are external and internal. Role of external feedback is to give information about deliverer's expectations and a justification of why student scored a particular mark. Internal feedback on the other hand provides help in developing learning behavior, guidance and mastery over the topic. Bound (2010) was of the view that feedback tells a student what he or she did wrong or right and what should be done in the future. So it seems quite obvious from the discussion that learner's behavior is impacted due to the quality of feedback given to them. It seems that good feedback involved discussion from the tutor. Kerr believes that effective feedback helps students to develop their understanding and improve their performance. …