Michael Chiles is an experienced teacher who has been teaching geography for over 10 years and is currently a Head of Department. He is also an experienced Principal Examiner. Michael writes blogs at GeogHod and tweets at @m_chiles. He enjoys walking and exploring the British countryside with his Border Collie. His book, The CRAFT of Assessment, was published by John Catt in 2020.
In 'The Feedback Pendulum' Michael Chiles provides insights and examples for tackling the fact that feedback, as we all know, does not always have the desired impact. This thought provoking, practical book helps us get there. It is time, colleagues, to tackle head on, the ghastliness and laziness of generic feedback. It is time to get shot of quality assurance that relies on book scrutiny and the amount of marking in pupils' books. It is time to have proper conversations about the power of feedback to improve the work of pupils and professionals: 'The Feedback Pendulum' is a great starting point. -- Mary Myatt * Educational consultant and author * Feedback is an essential topic for every teacher and school leader. It can impact positively, or negatively, on pupils' learning and on teachers' workload. Too often though, schools are prone to damaging feedback fads. Perhaps the truth of these fads is that school teachers and leaders are uncertain about what feedback really means. Chiles' book is a helpful, pragmatic antidote to those all-too-common feedback fads. It synthesises a range of interesting evidence, voices from leaders and teachers, alongside practical approaches, to build a rich picture of what makes for effective feedback. As such, it provides vital food for thought for teachers and leaders of all stripes. -- Alex Quigley