In observing how designers use the modlettes quiz formats I am surprised at how few use the feedback function to good advantage. They start out fine by providing some sort of realistic context and asked learners to make a decision.
Then, instead of showing them the consequences of their decision, they just provided feedback as if it was any other multiple choice assessment. ‘Correct, that is the best decision.’
So what?
Boring!
And totally ineffective.
Instead of just saying correct or incorrect, use a combination of intrinsic and instructional feedback for more effective scenario-based learning.
Intrinsic Feedback
Generally speaking, there are two types of feedback. “Intrinsic” and “Instructional”. Instructional feedback is what we see all the time in eLearning; it’s feedback that tells you what was right and what was wrong, and possibly guides or coaches you about how to improve.
With intrinsic feedback, the learning environment responds to decisions and action choices in ways that mirror the real world. For example, if a learner responds rudely to a customer, he will see and hear an unhappy customer response. Intrinsic feedback gives the learner an opportunity to try, fail, and experience the results of errors in a safe environment.
Intrinsic feedback is one of the features of scenario-based learning that sets it apart from traditional eLearning. When you show learners the consequences of their actions, they can immediately see why it matters. The principles or process that you’re teaching aren’t just abstract content any more, it’s something with real world implications. It matters if they get it wrong. It’s more engaging to receive intrinsic feedback. Learners are also more likely to remember the content because they’ve already seen what could happen if they don’t make the right choices.
Forms of Intrinsic Feedback
Intrinsic feedback can take many forms. Customer reactions (verbal and non-verbal), patient health outcomes, improving sales figures dropping, a machine starting to work properly again, and other environmental responses can be intrinsic feedback.
The example below shows the difference between instructional and intrinsic feedback. The intrinsic feedback introduces an emotional aspect which makes the learning more effective.
Question: In a coaching conversation, how important is it to mention the performance standard?
Intrinsic Feedback
I’m confused! What is she talking about?
We’ve never discussed this before
They should know what the performance standards are.
Instructional Feedback
Very important.
It is necessary to make explicit reference to the correct performance standard.
Instructional Feedback
Scenarios can also use instructional feedback that can break the realism of a scenario. Using a coach can help alleviate that problem, as can having learners ask for advice from people inside a scenario (a manager, an HR rep, or a colleague). Using a conversational tone for the instructional feedback also helps keep it within the scenario.
Instructional feedback in a scenario often doesn’t need to explicitly say that a choice was correct or incorrect; that’s clear enough from the intrinsic feedback. Focus your instructional feedback on explaining why a choice was effective or how it could have been done better.
Delayed or immediate feedback
Feedback can also be delayed rather than happening immediately. Experts recommend immediate feedback for novices, but delayed feedback for experts or more advanced learners.