THE INFLUENCE OF AUGMENTED FEEDBACK ON SKILL LEARNING DEPENDS ON CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SKILL AND THE LEARNER

Augmented feedback is a common component of the communication between instructor and student in skill learning. In this article, the argumen t is made that the effective use of augmented feedback depends on unde rstanding the various effects of augmented feedback on skill learning and the conditions characterizing the occurrence of each effect. Four distinct relationships between augmented feedback and skill learning a re presented: Augmented feedback is necessary for learning some skills ; it is not needed to learn some skills; for some skills it enables th e learner to acquire the skill faster or achieve a higher level of per formance than would be possible without it; and it can be provided in such a way that it hinders skill learning. These four relationships ar e also discussed in terms of their implications for skill instruction.