'Are you listening please?' The advantages of electronic audio feedback compared to written feedback

• Published in: Assessment and evaluation in higher education Vol. 35; no. 7; pp. 759 - 769
• Main Authors: Lunt, Tom, Curran, John
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Routledge 01.12.2010; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: audacity; audio; Audio Equipment; College students; Computer Software; Criticism; Digital electronics; Educational Environment; Educational evaluation; Email; Feedback; Feedback (Response); Internet; Learning; MP3 files; Online Surveys; Polls & surveys; Software; Student Attitudes; Surveys; technology; Written Language
• ISSN: 0260-2938; 1469-297X
• DOI: 10.1080/02602930902977772

Feedback on students' work is, probably, one of the most important aspects of learning, yet students' report, according to the National Union of Students (NUS) Survey of 2008, unhappiness with the feedback process. Students were unhappy with the quality, detail and timing of feedback. This paper examines the benefits of using audio, as opposed to written, feedback in an attempt to overcome student criticisms. Using the Audacity audio software MP3 feedback files were created and sent to 60 students either via a VLE or email. The students were asked to complete an online survey on audio feedback. Twenty-six students responded. The results were, generally, very positive. The use of audio feedback seemed to have overcome the problems reported by the NUS survey. Students are at least 10 times more likely to open audio files compared to collecting written feedback. The paper concludes with reflections, and advice, on introducing audio feedback.