Facilitative Feedback

Sensemaking

Principle in Action

LiveHint is a live textbook assistant by Carnegie Learning, a company focusing on adaptive learning solutions. This Conversational ChatBot applies facilitative feedback by offering real-time hints that prompt learners to think more deeply about the problem. Instead of providing direct answers, it encourages self-reflection by prompting students to try the problem themselves before receiving help. The system begins with more general hints to encourage reflection, and as students progress, they can click “See Another Hint” for progressively more specific guidance. This progressive hint system helps students refine their understanding while maintaining their independence in problem-solving.

LiveHint

LiveHint prompts students to try the problem themselves before receiving help

LiveHint prompts students to try the problem themselves before receiving help

Discuss in your team

How does your product promote self-reflection and help learners identify their own mistakes instead of providing explicit solutions?

At which stage of learning does the product incorporate directive feedback, and at which stage does it shift to facilitative feedback?

Principle Definition

Facilitative feedback is often open-ended and question-driven, designed to stimulate reflection and guided self-discovery. Unlike providing direct corrections, it enables learners to develop the cognitive and problem-solving skills needed to improve performance. It is most effective when delivered throughout the learning process, particularly for high-achieving or advanced students who benefit from indirect guidance and thrive when faced with supported challenges.

Limitations

The effectiveness of facilitative feedback depends on the learner’s ability to interpret and act on the feedback independently. In the early stages of learning, directive feedback that provides clear, explicit guidance is more helpful for learners who are mastering basic concepts or skills and may not be able to identify their mistakes themselves. In contrast, facilitative feedback is useful when learners develop more sophisticated cognitive systems that can scaffold new learning. A balance of both types of feedback can be used at different stages to ensure learners receive the appropriate level of support as they progress.

Facilitative Feedback

Sensemaking

Principle Definition

Facilitative feedback is often open-ended and question-driven, designed to stimulate reflection and guided self-discovery. Unlike providing direct corrections, it enables learners to develop the cognitive and problem-solving skills needed to improve performance. It is most effective when delivered throughout the learning process, particularly for high-achieving or advanced students who benefit from indirect guidance and thrive when faced with supported challenges.

Limitations

Limitations

The effectiveness of facilitative feedback depends on the learner’s ability to interpret and act on the feedback independently. In the early stages of learning, directive feedback that provides clear, explicit guidance is more helpful for learners who are mastering basic concepts or skills and may not be able to identify their mistakes themselves. In contrast, facilitative feedback is useful when learners develop more sophisticated cognitive systems that can scaffold new learning. A balance of both types of feedback can be used at different stages to ensure learners receive the appropriate level of support as they progress.

Relevant Principles

Relevant Principles

Principle in Action

LiveHint

LiveHint is a live textbook assistant by Carnegie Learning, a company focusing on adaptive learning solutions. This Conversational ChatBot applies facilitative feedback by offering real-time hints that prompt learners to think more deeply about the problem. Instead of providing direct answers, it encourages self-reflection by prompting students to try the problem themselves before receiving help. The system begins with more general hints to encourage reflection, and as students progress, they can click “See Another Hint” for progressively more specific guidance. This progressive hint system helps students refine their understanding while maintaining their independence in problem-solving.

LiveHint prompts students to try the problem themselves before receiving help

Discuss in your team

How does your product promote self-reflection and help learners identify their own mistakes instead of providing explicit solutions?

At which stage of learning does the product incorporate directive feedback, and at which stage does it shift to facilitative feedback?