Designing Web-Based Training: How to Teach Anyone Anything Anywhere Anytime

7.7. GIVE MEANINGFUL FEEDBACK

After learners answer a question, they crave feedback. Did I get the right answer? No? Why not? What's wrong with my answer? What did I misunderstand? How can I correct my misunderstanding? Provide such feedback. And, if necessary, include links back to the original material.

7.7.1. Provide complete information

Tests can teach too. Feedback on test questions helps learners correct misunderstandings and augment knowledge. Feedback that merely says "Right" or "Wrong" does little to motivate or instruct learners [94]. For each answer, consider including:

• The question. Repeat or redisplay the question. If questions are numbered, include the question number.

• Right/wrong flag. Avoid vagueness. Do not say "Almost" or "Not quite" but simply "Wrong" or "Incorrect."

• The correct answer.

• The learner's answer. Learners may not have entered what they thought they did.

• Why the correct answer is right (and, if necessary, why the learner's answer is wrong).

• Link to the original presentation or a remedial one on this subject. Also include instructions on how to resume after reviewing the material.

Here is a simple example of helpful feedback. It annotates the learner's answer to provide the necessary feedback.