Enhancing first year management students’ engagement: an action research project to explore the use of the Essay Feedback Checklist (EFC)

Feedback represents one of the key factors that affect student learning. A question is raised here as to what extent engaging students with feedback and considering their voices as partners in the assessment process can improve their confidence and therefore their learning. The objective of this action research was to support the introduction of the Essay Feedback Checklist (EFC) to first year management students at a British University. This research examined the use of EFC as an interactive two-way communication tool between tutors and students. The research also aimed to help management students to be more aware of the assessment criteria thus to be more engaged in feedback. Data was collected from students and tutors before and after the use of the EFC in order to highlight their perspectives regarding the effective use of the tool. The research's findings argued that students found the EFC useful to support engagement with the feedback and in improving their confidence through receiving quality feedback to develop their work further. Tutors and students claimed that the EFC created an interactive environment in providing feedback and it helped to open a dialogue about it, but they also highlighted some drawbacks.