Our commitment to fostering student success continues with the return of the “Impactful Teaching – CILA” video series, now showcasing its third and final installment: Feedback and Motivation. This series provides Austin Community College (ACC) faculty with actionable strategies to increase classroom engagement and cultivate a sense of belonging that supports student success. The first installment looked at Name Connections, while the second explored Collaborative Group Work.

Feedback is often viewed as a one-way conversation, a critique that points backward. But what if we could transform feedback into a forward-looking, collaborative process that drives innovation, connection, and self-discovery? In this last video, we explore Radical Candor a revolutionary approach to feedback that champions growth, belonging, and actionable change.

Video 3: Feedback and Motivation: Radical Candor

At its heart, the principle of Radical Candor— is the ability to “challenge directly while caring personally” (Scott, 2019). This method is designed for faculty to inspire students and for peers and leaders to empower one another. Here’s how this innovative approach is reshaping feedback in classrooms and beyond:

1. 1. 1. Reflective Portfolios: A Mirror for Growth
         Gone are the days of static assessments. Reflective Portfolios serve as dynamic tools that allow faculty and students to track their progress, organize their thoughts, and celebrate milestones. These portfolios promote metacognition, encouraging users to see their successes while identifying areas for improvement. Faculty can showcase how their teaching methods evolve, while students can use these portfolios to connect classroom concepts to real-world applications. This approach bridges the gap between grading and learning, making feedback a dialogue rather than a verdict.
      2. Feedforward Sessions: A Vision for the Future
         Feedback often focuses on what went wrong, but Feedforward Sessions shift the perspective to what’s possible. These sessions are built around actionable, future-focused advice that empowers individuals to take their next steps confidently and clearly. For faculty, this means offering students a roadmap for success while modeling how to accept and act on feedback. These sessions reflect the humanizing education principles and values—emphasizing that growth is not about perfection but consistent, intentional progress.
      3. Collaborative Reflection Circles: Building Community Through Feedback and Motivation
         Collaborative Reflection Circles are a fresh take on professional growth and accountability. These groups invite faculty, students, and staff to come together in a safe and inclusive space to share insights, offer constructive feedback, and learn from each other’s experiences. These circles are built on the values of joy, courage, and compassion, ensuring that feedback becomes a shared journey rather than an isolating experience. By fostering a culture of trust and openness, they create opportunities for connection and mutual inspiration.

Humanizing Feedback: Radical Candor in Action

Radical Candor ensures that feedback is both caring and direct. Focusing on transparency, accountability, and growth empowers faculty to connect deeply with their students while improving their practices.

When students see their instructors modeling vulnerability and growth, it sets the stage for a more inclusive and engaged classroom environment. This ripple effect extends beyond the classroom, inspiring intra- and inter-department, office, and campus-level collaboration and fostering a shared purpose across the institution.

The Bigger Picture: Transforming Teaching and Learning, One Conversation at a Time 

This CILA video series is more than a set of techniques—it’s a movement to humanize education, demystify teaching and learning, and make feedback and motivation a force for good. Whether through a Reflective Portfolio, a Feedforward Session, or a Collaborative Reflection Circle, these methods remind us that education is about more than knowledge; it’s about growth, belonging, and connection.

Want to learn more or bring these transformative practices to your classroom or department?

• • Video 1: Name Connections: The Power of Belonging
  • Video 2: Collaborative Classrooms: Strategies for Effective Group Work

Let’s work together to build a future where feedback inspires, motivates, connects, and empowers everyone it touches.

Source:
Radical Candor: Scott, Kim, Radical Candor: Be a Kick-ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity. New York, St. Martin’s Press, 2019.