What type of feedback is most beneficial for student growth during a lesson?

Descriptive feedback is particularly beneficial for student growth during a lesson because it provides specific information about what students are doing well and what areas need improvement. This type of feedback goes beyond general comments, offering detailed insights that help students understand their strengths and weaknesses. By highlighting specific aspects of their performance, descriptive feedback enables students to make actionable changes and enhances their learning by clarifying expectations and goals.

For instance, if a teacher provides descriptive feedback on a student's writing by pointing out effective use of vocabulary and suggesting ways to improve sentence structure, the student can directly apply this guidance in their next writing assignment. This targeted approach fosters a growth mindset, empowering students to take ownership of their learning and see mistakes as opportunities for improvement.

In contrast, other types of feedback, such as summative feedback, typically provides a summary of performance without the specificity that aids growth. General feedback lacks the detail needed to inform students of precise areas for development, while peer feedback, though valuable, may not always be based on a thorough understanding of the material and may vary widely in quality and usefulness.