Corrective feedback provides students with information regarding an assignment, and makes suggestions on ways they can improve on it. Corrective feedback can include the following: no feedback given, simple verification or knowledge of results, knowledge of correct response, elaborated feedback and try-again feedback. Sometimes teachers make the mistake of assuming that simply issuing a grade with one or two comments represents quality feedback, but that is not the case. Students may require more details, so it is important to elaborate as much as possible.
Motivational feedback is geared towards the learner and guides the student to complete the task at hand. According to Pyke and Sherlock, motivational feedback responds to students goals and encourages students to achieve those goals. This can be done by making the feedback relevant to the learner, thereby putting them in charge of their success.
One way teachers can deliver motivational or corrective feedback is through the use of chat rooms. Chat rooms can be handy for review sessions, since the time spent is synchronous and students can receive immediate feedback for their questions. The way that it works is that students and instructor enter the chat room and begin a dialogue of the current concept, a review or simply help with a certain assignment. The students type in their questions, and the instructor responds. Though beneficial, a chat activity must be scheduled in advance, and other arrangements must be planned in case there is a conflict for certain students. Instructors must remember that online students might be taking these types of classes because of an already hectic schedule, so some flexibility is needed.
Email is the most common form of communication in an online class. Students might email for clarification, and the instructor responds accordingly. Sometimes it is easy for the instructor to fall into routine responses, such as "reread the syllabus"; however this often discourages students. Therefore instructors must read each email with careful consideration.
Another way to deliver more relevant feedback is the use of interactive virtual classrooms. Interactive classrooms allow for students and instructors to chat synchronously; however, video and audio can be incorporated into the process. The instructor can stream a review session right from his office or the classroom while students ask questions. This is especially helpful for auditory learners that must hear feedback in order to understand the concept. In some cases, students can present themselves via the interactive classroom and receive a responses instantly from their instructor.