Making Feedback Work for Year 7 Artists

Giving and getting feedback on art can be tough for Year 7 students. Even though feedback is important for creating better designs, many young artists run into problems that make it hard to use it properly. Let’s look at some of the challenges they face and how to overcome them.

Challenges with Feedback

1. Feeling Attached

   • Students often get really attached to their artwork. When they hear feedback, they might feel like they’re being criticized instead of getting helpful advice. This can make them defensive and unwilling to change their work.

2. Not Understanding the Feedback

   • Sometimes, the feedback from classmates or teachers isn’t clear. This can leave students confused about what to do next. If the comments use complicated words, it can be even harder for students to understand the advice.

3. Too Much Feedback at Once

   • Getting a lot of feedback all at once can feel overwhelming. With so many opinions, students might not know which ones to focus on and what is most important for their work.

4. Low Confidence

   • Some students might doubt their ability to improve their art with feedback. This lack of confidence can stop them from growing as artists. They might stick to their original ideas instead of trying something new.

How to Use Feedback Effectively

To deal with these challenges, students can use some helpful tips to make feedback work for them:

1. Stay Open-Minded

   • Students should try viewing feedback as a chance to grow rather than a personal attack. Building a positive classroom environment can help everyone understand that feedback is a normal part of learning.

2. Ask Questions

   • If feedback is confusing, students should feel free to ask questions. Talking with classmates or teachers can help them understand how to use the feedback better.

3. Pick the Most Important Feedback

   • Students can learn to sort feedback into three groups: critical, important, and nice-to-have. By focusing on the most important suggestions first, they can manage the feedback better and not feel overwhelmed.

4. Take Time to Reflect

   • After getting feedback, it’s good for students to spend some time thinking about it. Writing down their thoughts on what feedback was useful and how it fits with their ideas can help them remember and understand better.

5. Get Feedback Throughout the Process

   • Instead of waiting until the final piece is done, students should ask for feedback at different points in their project. This ongoing conversation can lead to steady improvements and help build their confidence.

Conclusion

In summary, while dealing with feedback in art can be challenging for Year 7 students, there are ways to make it easier. By staying open-minded, asking questions, prioritizing feedback, reflecting on comments, and seeking ongoing advice, students can turn feedback from a scary roadblock into a helpful tool for their artistic growth.