Before starting the ADL program, I had never heard of the word "feedforward" before. I only new the word "feedback."
Feedback is the process of giving information in order to evaluate something or someone. It can be either positive or negative, but it is always with the past in mind. Even as an adult, anytime I was offered feedback, whether it was positive or negative, all I could think about was, "What did I do wrong?" I am a very self critical person, so when I receive feedback all I can focus on is the negative and the unchangeable past.
According to Tandem HR (2022), feedforward is the reverse exercise of feedback. It’s the process of replacing positive or negative feedback with future-oriented solutions. In simple terms, it means focusing on the future instead of the past. After learning about this concept in the ADL program through my readings and Dr. Harapnuik's post, I have learned to look forward to receiving feedforward. This is a way to continue to grow as a student without only looking at the negative and focusing on the past. I have seen a tremendous amount of growth after receiving feedforward on my assignments, papers, and e-portfolio. My coworkers, Veronica Balli and Ileana Reyna, and I have developed and grown our Innovation Plan into something that we are ready to implement because of the feedforward given by our professors.
As I move forward, I am now also applying this technique in my classroom and have seen amazing results. We not only incorporate growth mindset ideology into every assignment, but my students no longer have sad eyes when I give them feedback because now we give "feedforward" and look to the future in order to promote growth.
Resources
Feedforward vs. Feedback – What’s the Difference? (2022, February 8). Tandem HR. https://tandemhr.com/feedforward-vs-feedback/
Harapnuik, D. (2020, April 30). Feedforward Vs. Feedback. It’s About Learning: Creating Significant Learning Environments. https://www.harapnuik.org/?s=feedforward
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