Teachers’ Accounts of Their Perceptions and Practices of Providing Written Feedback to Nursing Students on Their Assignments

Abstract

Written feedback can facilitates students’ learning in several ways. However, the teachers’ practice of written feedback may be affected by various factors. This study aimed to explore the nurse teachers’ accounts of their perceptions and practices of providing written feedback.

A descriptive exploratory design was employed in the study. A purposive sample of 12 teachers from nursing institutions in Karachi, Pakistan, participated in the study. Using a semi-structured guide, in-depth interviews were conducted with the participants, between January-September, 2013. The interviews were tape recorded and transcribed verbatim and were manually content analyzed.

The analysis of findings led to three sections: teachers’ conceptions about written feedback, teachers’ practices of providing written feedback, and factors that affect the teachers’ practices of providing written feedback to their students. The findings indicated that although the teachers realize the importance of written feedback and its impact on students’ learning, several factors, including teachers’ competence and commitment, students’ receptivity, and contextual barriers, affected their practices.

To actualize the potential power of teachers’ written feedback in students’ learning, both teachers and institutional administrators need to realize the importance of written feedback. Moreover concerted efforts including teachers’ development and policies are required to overcome the factors that negatively influence the practices of written feedback.