The power of assessment feedback in teaching and learning: a narrative review and synthesis of the literature

Assessment feedback is heralded as an integral facilitator of teaching and learning. Despite the acknowledgement of its crucial role in education, there are inconsistencies in its powerful impact in teaching and learning: the role of the categories of feedback, the role of providers of feedback, constituents of effective feedback, and barriers to effective feedback. The focus of the narrative synthesis is to examine these different dimensions of assessment feedback and its powerful role in teaching and learning. A narrative evidence involving 82 studies was presented in thematic themes identified in literature. From the comprehensive review of the literature, the concept of assessment feedback and how it contributes to school effectiveness is thoroughly discussed. The article presents assessment feedback as a valuable factor for educators and students seeking to ensure continuous school improvement. It was found that a blended form of formative and summative feedback can improve teaching and learning. Feedback in any form should be specific, timely, frequent, supportive, and constructive. Negative feedback can distort learning, affective states of the recipient of feedback, and the job performance of employees. Findings from the review can assist researchers, authors, and readers of feedback reviews in the conceptualization of the role of assessment feedback in education. The study concludes with pedagogical implications for teaching and learning practice. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG part of Springer Nature 2021.