Our previous "Real World Examples" post explored Concept Development. Moving on through the CLASS® tool, let’s continue exploring the Instructional Support domain. Remember, Instructional Support focuses on how educators help children solve problems, think critically, and reason effectively. It highlights the value of real-time feedback to deepen understanding, encourage persistence, and develop language and communication skills.
Quality of Feedback is the second dimension in the Instructional Support domain. It focuses on how educators provide essential real-time feedback by responding to children’s words and actions as they happen. Through the CLASS lens, educators who consistently score high in Quality of Feedback respond to children in ways that help them understand concepts better and feel encouraged to keep working on tasks. This is important because timely and personalized feedback, which can be verbal and nonverbal, supports children in achieving at a higher level with the educator’s support than they could on their own.
Scaffolding
The Example: A Team Project
Think about a time when you worked on a team project with a great leader who kept everyone on track. From the start, they made sure to check in with each team member regularly. If someone was struggling or had questions, the leader quickly stepped in to explain things clearly without making anyone feel bad for asking. After these check-ins, people felt more confident, understood their tasks clearly, and were motivated to keep moving forward. You could see that the leader's support wasn’t just about finishing the project or getting the right answer—it was about making sure everyone truly understood the concepts they were working on and received the support they needed to finish the task. Just like a skilled educator helps children understand and keep going, this leader ensured the team learned and grew together. By the end, you felt like you had learned so much more, and the team was more effective because of their guidance.
Feedback Loops
The Example: Learning A New Hobby
Think about a time when you were developing a new hobby, like playing an instrument or learning a craft. You had an instructor who didn’t just show you how to do it once but stayed engaged in a learning conversation with you as you practiced. They watched your progress, gave pointers, and talked with you about what you were doing and learning. When you got stuck, they asked questions to guide your thinking, and when you improved, they offered positive reinforcement to keep you motivated. They used both words and gestures to help you adjust your technique, creating an ongoing back-and-forth exchange that helped you get better each time you worked with them. This wasn’t just about completing a task—it was about developing a skill with their real-time guidance. Just like an educator interacts with children to deepen their understanding, this instructor’s feedback loop helped you gain confidence and skill through back-and-forth interactions.
Prompting Thought Processes
The Example: Think Back To Math Class!
Think about a time when you were in a math class, working to solve problems like equations or learning a new concept. Instead of just giving you the correct answer right away, your teacher asked questions that made you think about how you got to your solution. They might have said, “What steps did you take to get this answer?” or “Why did you choose this method?” These questions encouraged you to think through your problem-solving process and helped you see both what you understood and where you needed more help. By reflecting on your own reasoning, you gained a clearer sense of your approach, what you already knew, and what you still needed to learn. Just like an effective teacher helps students think about their own thinking, these questions help you grow by encouraging self-reflection.
Providing Information
The Example: Professional Development Workshop
Think about a time when you attended a workshop on improving communication skills. During a group activity, you shared your thoughts on handling difficult conversations with coworkers and parents. Instead of just nodding along, the facilitator built on your words by providing specific examples and clarifying ideas. They might have said, “That’s a great point about sharing your perspective! You can also consider using ‘I’ statements to express your feelings clearly without making others feel defensive.” The facilitator then demonstrated this technique through role-play, showing how it could change the dynamics of a conversation. This approach deepened your understanding of effective communication by expanding on the point you made. Just like a skilled educator builds on children’s ideas and actions, this facilitator’s specific feedback and examples helped you grasp the concept more fully and improve your communication skills.
Encouragement and Affirmation
The Example: DIY Home Improvement Projects
Think about a time when you decided to tackle a simple home improvement project, like painting a room or assembling new furniture. At first, you found the task a bit challenging, especially when it came to choosing the right colors or figuring out the instructions. A friend who was helping you noticed your frustration and took a moment to encourage you. They said, “I see how much effort you’re putting into this! You’ve already made great progress! Just remember, you’ll be so proud of yourself when it’s done, and you can say you made it yourself!” Their specific encouragement helped you feel more confident and motivated you to keep going, even when you were feeling tired and facing challenges. Just like a supportive educator inspires children’s efforts, this friend’s affirmation made a significant difference in your 'can-do' mindset and willingness to keep working on the project and get you to the finish line.
Do you notice how high-quality feedback makes you feel seen, heard, supported, and affirmed as a learner? It empowers you to elevate your abilities and achieve in ways you might not have without timely and individualized support. By fostering a growth mindset, this feedback enhances your learning experience and inspires you to confidently take on new challenges.
What are your favorite real-world examples of Quality of Feedback? Do you ever think about Quality of Feedback when navigating situations in the adult world? What have you learned from your experiences that can be applied to how you support children by providing real-time feedback to their words and actions in the learning setting?
