Learners need to know that they are on the right track. So they need feedback to help them to check their understanding. Some of this feedback should come from the learning materials themselves:

• responses to activities should always offer more than simply the right answer - they should respond to the likely answers the learners may have given and the reasons for these
• responses should always be constructive
• responses should congratulate learners when they get something right (without being patronising) and sympathise if they get something wrong

Of course, feedback from people (who might be managers, colleagues, sponsors/mentors, or even friends and family) is also a vital part of any learner experience. Effective learning materials actively encourage learners to seek feedback and support from relevant people.

Inspired by Phil Race’s Open Learning Handbook (Kogan Page).