Episode 2: Providing Digital Feedback

One of the most challenging aspects of teaching students to communicate and write well is in providing timely and effective feedback.  In our last episode, we discussed some easy ways to integrate Google Docs with regular writing practice. What good is that without sharing helpful ideas for feedback?  
This episode shares ways to use the built in features of Google Docs as well as two Google Docs Add-ons: Orange Slice Teacher Rubric and SAS Student Writing Reviser.

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​ ​🛠​ Built-in Features of Google Docs  
Take full advantage of the built-in features of Google Docs to provide timely and meaningful feedback

• Text formatting (bold, italics, font color, & style)
• Commenting (digital correspondence in the Google Docs margin)
• Suggestion mode (suggested edits by others appear in green brackets)  

With text formatting, you can have your feedback stand out among the students' text.  You may want to consider choosing a formatting feature to use consistently so students know that it is the teacher's feedback they are seeing. 

The comment feature will add comments to the right Google Docs margins. One advantage to adding comments for feedback is that they create a stacked list in the margin making it easy for students to track. Another feature of comments is the ability to assign the task to a specific person by adding + or @ followed by an email. Once assigned, an alert email is sent to the person who has been assigned the task. This feature would serve as a great reminder for students about reading and reacting to teacher feedback. 

The suggestion mode allows just that- suggestions. Suggestions can be made without changing the original text within the document. Students can review the suggestions and choose to accept them or deny them. If students accept the suggestions, the original text is replaced with the suggested text and if denied, the suggestion is removed and the original text remains. 

🔑Resources:
Built in Features of Google Docs

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📋 Orange Slice Google Doc Add On 
Use the rubric categories in Orange Slice to score narrative, informative, and argumentative writing. Or upload a custom rubric to score student writing submitted in Google Docs. In order to get the Orange Slice rubric, open a Google Doc, select Add-ons from the tool bar, and then select Get Add-ons. At this point,  search for Orange Slice Teacher Rubric and then click the blue +Free button to add your add-on. Once you have the add-on you will be able to access it at any time. ​

• Increase grading productivity
• Works well with Google Classroom
• Easily customizable
• Embeds into student documents

Special thanks to  Shawna Farley, Academic Coach at West Chatham Elementary School, for formatting multiple scoring rubrics  to use with Orange Slice. ​

​🔑Resources:
Orange Slice Video Tutorial
Teacher Rubric Orange Slice - Add On 
SCCPSS Writing Rubrics - Grades 3-5 

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✏ SAS Writing Reviser Add On
This student add-on and Chrome app are excellent writing tools for students!  SAS Writing Reviser scans writing completed in a Google Doc and provides instant feedback as well as short tutorials on a multitude of writing mechanics.

• Helps guide writers to focus on key elements of writing mechanics
• Teaches the principles of good writing
• Enables students to self correct
• Students begin writing with precision

​🔑Resources:
​SAS Writing Reviser - Add On

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🔑​ Additional Resources:
WriQ - Extension
Checkmark  Chrome Extension 
Kaizena Voice Feedback
ISTE Standards for Educators
​ISTE Standards for Students
​Guide to the 4 C's
Technology Integration Matrix

​What is your favorite way to provide digital feedback to students and colleagues? 
​ Add your experiences and questions to the comments of this post and give us Somethin' to Tech About!