USE OF CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK, TO IMPROVE CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS OF DISTANCE STUDENTS (UT)

Abstract

This study aims to describe the efforts of tutors in improving students thinking skills during online learning by providing structured feedback on the abilities to be developed. Providing feedback is one of the learning components that have a significant influence on maintaining student learning power online and can improve and develop student abilities in learning, especially the development of the ability to facilitate learning. Through providing feedback, students construct their thinking skills to solve problems, seek solution, ideas and make the right decisions to overcome existing problems. Providing feedback on every student activity in discussion forums and assignments is a wise investment to develop student interactivity and learning abilities. To find out the benefits and changes in learning experienced by students through the provision of feedback, an instrument was developed that is not only able to measure and explore mastery of concepts and learning skills but  also able to develop low to high-level thinking skills during learning. Although learning has been designed in a such way to develop students abilities, higher-order thinking skills require other efforts during the online learning process. Providing feedback is one of the efforts in assessing as well as constructing students thinking abilities gradually from low to high-level abilities. This study also aims to describe the various types of feedback that can be used to develop the higherorder thinking skills that distance learning students should have. This present study uses qualitative analysis and observation to get information on student responses in discussion forums and assignments. This present study revealed and proved several benefits obtained and felt by students related to increasing the ability to facilitate learning, especially higher-order thinking skills. These findings indicate that providing feedback in various forms during the online learning period can increase the ability to facilitate learning and improve performance.