The provision and uptake of feedback on academic performance is widely debated throughout higher education. Whilst many educators strive to provide students with suitable feedback on their academic work, it is often reported that the feedback is frequently not delivered in a prompt or detailed manner or is not acted upon by students. Traditionally feedback has been delivered in writing, and this study investigates the potential value of an alternative method by providing formative feedback using short audio clips.

This DCU research study is a qualitative descriptive study conducted online to determine the perceived usefulness of formative feedback. A cohort of baccalaureate nursing students (n = 199) in one Higher Education Institution in the Republic of Ireland were offered audio and written feedback on an academic assignment. Following receipt of the feedback participants completed an anonymous online questionnaire exploring their perceptions of the usefulness of audio and written feedback. The questionnaire was analysed using a thematic analysis framework.

Thematic data analysis identified four themes: connectivity, engagement, enhanced understanding, and validation. Findings indicate that both audio and written feedback on academic work were perceived to be beneficial, however almost all of the students indicated an overwhelming preference for audio feedback. A sense of connectivity between the lecturer and the student, created through the provision of audio feedback, was the prevailing theme throughout the data. Written feedback conveyed the relevant information, but the audio feedback was more holistic and multi-dimensional and included an emotional and personal quality to which the students responded positively.