No formative feedback!

What’s students thoughts about not receiving any formative feedback whatsoever, the tutor lying about it, too stubborn to admit his wrong doing. Obviously affected my grade and fellow students’ also many failed or didn’t complete the work - he wonders why! I think it’s just lazy teaching. Obviously they will get away with it, you complain and leave feedback about it yourself, they don’t like hearing about our complaint and try and cover it up, making us feel like it’s our fault! How can you improve or make any necessary improvements if you don’t know what’s good, right, or wrong in the first place.

Reply 1

LJMUStudentReps

Official Rep

19

Original post

by Anonymous

What’s students thoughts about not receiving any formative feedback whatsoever, the tutor lying about it, too stubborn to admit his wrong doing. Obviously affected my grade and fellow students’ also many failed or didn’t complete the work - he wonders why! I think it’s just lazy teaching. Obviously they will get away with it, you complain and leave feedback about it yourself, they don’t like hearing about our complaint and try and cover it up, making us feel like it’s our fault! How can you improve or make any necessary improvements if you don’t know what’s good, right, or wrong in the first place.

Hi there,
It may be worth seeing if you can get a private tutor or another tutor to help. I don't know what level of study you are at but, the results of your tests are the ultimate outcome and if these are not improving with your tutor, you should probably change tutor. You could try bring it up with a headteacher or, if the other students feel the same you should all make a complaint together.
I hope this helps.
Jack, LJMU Rep

Reply 2

Admit-One

Universities Forum Helper

21

Original post

by LJMUStudentReps

Hi there,
It may be worth seeing if you can get a private tutor or another tutor to help. I don't know what level of study you are at but, the results of your tests are the ultimate outcome and if these are not improving with your tutor, you should probably change tutor. You could try bring it up with a headteacher or, if the other students feel the same you should all make a complaint together.
I hope this helps.
Jack, LJMU Rep

I's been posted under uni life so I assume they mean a module tutor.

Reply 3

hallamstudents

Official Rep

18

Original post

by Anonymous

What’s students thoughts about not receiving any formative feedback whatsoever, the tutor lying about it, too stubborn to admit his wrong doing. Obviously affected my grade and fellow students’ also many failed or didn’t complete the work - he wonders why! I think it’s just lazy teaching. Obviously they will get away with it, you complain and leave feedback about it yourself, they don’t like hearing about our complaint and try and cover it up, making us feel like it’s our fault! How can you improve or make any necessary improvements if you don’t know what’s good, right, or wrong in the first place.

Hi there,

This sounds really frustrating and I am not surprised that you are feeling like this about the situation.

The first thing I would suggest is to talk to your module tutor in person and ask them why there was no opportunity for formative feedback as you feel you would've benefitted from this. Even if they don't give you a very good answer, at least you can say you have spoken to them about it and they didn't seem interested in helping or answering your question.

I would then see if there is anyone else who you can escalate this to. Do you have an academic advisor or personal tutor? If so, these are usually quite good people to reach out to and explain the situation, that you have spoken to the tutor and what their response was and then see if they can help you at all. I understand your frustration with module feedback and not feeling like it is taken seriously, so talking to another academic may be a better way of trying to get your point across even just so it can help future students!

Another option would be to just contact your general help team at uni and see if they can help you with this at all. If your tutors have said that they will give you formative feedback and you don't feel they have you should tell someone so that this can be cleared up for you and future students.

I hope some of this helps,

Lucy -SHU student ambassador.

Reply 4

University of Salford Student Rep

Official Rep

13

Original post

by Anonymous

What’s students thoughts about not receiving any formative feedback whatsoever, the tutor lying about it, too stubborn to admit his wrong doing. Obviously affected my grade and fellow students’ also many failed or didn’t complete the work - he wonders why! I think it’s just lazy teaching. Obviously they will get away with it, you complain and leave feedback about it yourself, they don’t like hearing about our complaint and try and cover it up, making us feel like it’s our fault! How can you improve or make any necessary improvements if you don’t know what’s good, right, or wrong in the first place.

Hey,

This is a genuinely frustrating situation and you are right to feel strongly about it. Formative feedback exists for a reason. The fact that the tutor has been dishonest about it rather than acknowledging the issue makes it worse, and the fact that multiple students have been affected, including some failing or not completing the work, makes this something that needs to be raised formally rather than just accepted.

If you have not already done so, I would suggest the following steps:

•

Document everything you have: emails, submission records, and any written communication that shows feedback was expected but not provided.

•

Raise it with the module leader or programme leader first. Sometimes tutors operate within a wider team and a line manager may not be aware of the issue.

•

If that does not resolve it, escalate to a formal academic complaint. Universities have structured complaints processes and they are there precisely for situations like this.

•

Speak to your Student Union. They often have advisors who can support you through the complaints process and advocate on your behalf.

At Salford we have the Student Union who is there to back students up when things go wrong. If you are at a different university, it is worth checking what equivalent advisory or union support they offer, as most universities have something similar.

You are not being difficult by raising this. Universities are accountable for the quality of teaching they deliver, and students deserve to be treated honestly when things fall short. Keep a record of everything and do not let the complaint be brushed aside without a proper response.

Good Luck 😊
Arslan – University of Salford Student Representative

No formative feedback!

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