Effects of Web-Based Feedback on Students' Learning

Feedback plays an important role in supporting students' learning process. Nonetheless, providing feedback is still rather unusual in higher education. Moreover, research on the design of ideal feedback as well as its effects is rare. In order to contribute to the development of this field, a web-based feedback system was implemented in a lecture at the University of Cologne. The effects of this feedback on the students' learning process are presented in this article. Differences in the students' learning success and motivation, as well as their assessment of competencies, are analyzed within an experimental setting. Students who received individual feedback through this system achieved higher grades and showed increased levels of motivation. Moreover, they felt more competent with regard to solving tasks related to the learning material.