Feedback Fun

April is national poetry month (https://poets.org/national-poetry-month), and you want to have some fun with AI. Consider the written feedback that you often provide your students. At times it can seem very sterile and institutional. Even when you offer valuable insights and points, it often gets overlooked because it does not seem genuine or sincere. Enter AI – You could take your typical feedback text and see if AI can make it more ‘memorable’. Here is an example based on a suggestion from Chrissi Nerantzi from the University of Leeds (As presented in: Nerantzi, C., Abegglen, S., Karatsiori, M. and Martinez-Arboleda, A. (Eds.) (2023). 101 Creative ideas to use AI in education. A collection curated by #creativeHE. Graphic Design by Bushra Hashim. CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0.)

 

Original Feedback Text

Below is an example of feedback given to a student found on the internet:

I’m impressed with your ability to write concisely. Not only did you fulfill the assignment, you also wrote a long-ish intro and answered questions that went beyond the prompt. Doing so within the word limit and doing it well deserves recognition. One result is that outside of the opening paragraph the entire essay is focused exclusively on the arguments –there’s no excess fat in this essay. Given the nature of the assignment, that’s great. As noted throughout, however, some of your specific arguments need developed –your paper would’ve been better served had you eliminated one of the arguments in order to better develop the others along the lines mentioned in my comments above. Overall, it’s clear that you understand each of the philosophers you address and you present interesting ideas.

(Feedback example retrieved from – https://blogs.commons.georgetown.edu/jco34/sample-assignments/examples-of-feedback-on-student-writing/).

 

Using the above text with a generative AI tool (perplexity.ai) the following prompts were given, and the resultant outputs were received:

 

AI Prompt: Compose the above feedback in the form of a poem.

Feedback Poem

Your concision impresses, a skill so refined,
Not just the task fulfilled, but more you did find.
An intro that’s lengthy, yet focused throughout,
No excess, just arguments, that’s what it’s about. For an assignment like this, that’s exactly what’s needed,
Your understanding shines, your ideas are well-seeded.
But some arguments lack the development they need,
Eliminating one could make the others succeed. As noted before, your grasp of each thinker is clear,
The ideas you present, they’re certainly sincere.
Yet honing those points, refining with care,
Could elevate this work, make it beyond compare. So take this feedback, let it guide your next steps,
Refine and expand, reach new intellectual depths.
Your potential is evident, your skills are so strong,
Keep pushing forward, and you can’t go wrong.

 

AI Prompt: Compose the above feedback in the form of a limerick

Limerick Feedback

There once was a writer so clever,
Whose arguments were quite the endeavor.
They built in objections, then hit ’em back strong,
But clarity sometimes went wrong.
With the writing center’s help, they’d do even better. The opening needed more clarity upfront,
Revealing the main point, no need to be coy.
And Sen’s comments on comparing without an ideal,
Were points that the writer should not have concealed.
Overall the ideas were a true joy. So take this feedback, don’t let it annoy,
Use it to sharpen, refine, and deploy
An essay that’s tighter, more focused, more clear.
The potential is there, have no fear!
Keep working, keep growing, your skills to employ.

 

AI Prompt – Compose in the form of rap lyrics.

AI Prompt: Produce the feedback as rap lyrics

Rap Lyrics Feedback

Yo, listen up, I got some words for you,

Your writing’s on point, but there’s more to do.

You built in those objections, hit ’em back with your might,

But the clarity’s lacking, gotta shine that light.

 

Second language, I know it ain’t easy,

But hit up that writing center, make your skills feel breezy.

That opening, it needs to be more clear,

Don’t hold back the main point, let it ring loud and near.

 

And yo, you missed Sen’s comments, that’s a big deal,

Comparing without an ideal, that’s how you seal.

But overall, the ideas, they’re a true joy to behold,

Gotta tighten it up, make that story unfold.

 

So take this feedback, don’t let it annoy,

Use it to sharpen, refine, and deploy

An essay that’s tight, focused, and oh so clear,

The potential is there, have no fear!

Keep working, keep growing, your skills to employ.

 

Note: The above examples do not violate privacy as there are no identifiers for the recipient and no grade associated with the feedback.