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In this bite-size research episode, Megan discusses research on delayed vs. immediate feedback in the classroom. Like with many effective learning strategies, what students think is helping them learn is not what actually helps them learn. In two experiments presented by Mullet and colleagues (2014), University engineering students received relatively immediate feedback or delayed feedback on homework assignments. Students reported that they liked immediate feedback better and that it helped them learn more. In reality, the delayed feedback led to better performance on their course exams.

References:

Mullet, H. G., Butler, A. C., Verdin, B., von Borries, R., & Marsh, E. J. (2014). Delaying feedback promotes transfer of knowledge despite student preferences to receive feedback immediately. Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition, 3, 222-229. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jarmac.2014.05.001