1. Academic Feedback: the Students’ Story
Kirsty Smith BVM&S MRCVS
Masters by Research (Veterinary Education)
kirsty.j.smith83@gmail.com

2. Background
• The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
(R(D)SVS) in Edinburgh
– 5 year course; mainly British school leavers
– 4 year Graduate Entry Programme; mainly
US and UK graduates
• Feedback rated poorly by UK medical and
veterinary students in National Student Survey

3. National Student Survey
results
NSS, 2008
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
%AgreeorStronglyagree
R(D)SVS Vet1 Vet2 Vet3 Vet4 Edin Med

4. Methods of inquiry
• Veterinary students across the UK
– Online survey of feedback experiences
• R(D)SVS students
– Survey, focus groups and feedback diaries with 1st
and Graduate Entry Programme (GEP) year
– Survey and focus groups with third and final year

5. Adapted from Hounsell et al, 2008

6. Results
• Prior experiences of feedback shape expectations
– 60% of graduate and school leaving students said they
expect no less feedback at university than at school
• Perceived lack of guidance
– Students find it hard to judge the quality of their work
– Students struggle to meet expectations and feel
unprepared for examinations
– Added pressure as students feel they need to know
everything in the degree for their future career

7. Results
• Issues with feedback
– NSS questions poorly rated across year groups
– Feedback not returned in time for next assignment, or
sometimes at all e.g. on examinations
– Students feel they deserve feedback even if they are
doing well - so that they can improve
• Students want personal, specific and timely
feedback
– Verbal and specimen answers highly valued
– Prior clear guidance can reduce need for feedback

8. Some quotes
“I think making sure that everyone gets
feedback, if you do well or if you fail …
However you do, everyone kind of
deserves feedback really. It shouldn't just
be you can only have feedback if you
failed…” (3rd
year student)
“The problem is that it’s not only - because we have
the feedback issue, but that's further compounded
with the fact that we are not given expectations.
So without both you're pretty much clueless as to...
what you've done wrong and how to do better for
the next time.” (GEP student)

9. Initial conclusions
• Students have clear expectations of feedback
• Experiences may not match expectations
– Students feel they need more guidance
– Provision of quality, timely feedback is not consistent
• Future work is looking into ‘bridging the gap’
– Staff survey of perceptions of feedback
– Electronic feedback system for rotations
– Showing students exam answers with different marks
to demonstrate quality

10. Acknowledgments
• Susan Rhind
• Velda McCune
• Feedback project team
• VTO staff
• Students of R(D)SVS
This project was funded by the Principal’s Teaching Award Scheme
at the University of Edinburgh and the Birrell-Gray Travelling
Scholarship at the R(D)SVS

11. Questions?
kirsty.j.smith83@gmail.com