Hi, teachers, I am sure, you are doing a great job. I am Dr B.V. Adkoli, Director, Centre for Health Professions Education at Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth. 
Today I am going to unravel one of the secrets behind an effective teacher. This can  really make a  difference to your performance as a teacher. Not only as a teacher, but as a successful parent, a smart home maker or even a top leader in the society. Yes, I am talking about the importance of FEEDBACK, which is the most important mantra for your success. What is so special about it? 
Feedback plays  key role in any communication. It is said, feedback is the official receipt issued for successful communication. Without feedback, communication is incomplete, ineffective and can be even dangerous. Most of the problems in our dealing arise on account of communication gap; strained relationship between dear colleagues, or even bitterness in the  family. Hence feedback is the soul of communication.
During my long tenure as a teacher educator, I often used to ask many faculty members, Sir, Do you think that you are doing a good job? The answer I used to get is definitely, yes sir; why not? When I ask the next question, OK do you have any evidence to say so? They are taken aback. Unless you receive feedback, how can you assume that you are doing well, or you need to improve? Feedback from patients is vital for improving patient care. Similarly,  feedback from teacher to student and from student to teacher has a great role to play inthe growth of student  as well as the teacher.  
Look, feedback is essential at all stages of instruction: Before instruction, you need to  assess the learners’ previous knowledge; during instruction, you need to monitor the progress; after the instruction, you have to assess their learning outcome.
People are often confused with the two terms, feedback and criticism. Lets try to understand the difference between feedback and criticism. 
Firstly feedback refers to an act whereas criticism is targeted to a person. The purpose of feedback is improving and not proving a person right or wrong. Feedback is always constructive, whereas criticism can be destructive. Feedback is fact finding, whereas criticism is fault finding. Feedback is aimed to identify what went right, what went wrong, and how can one improve. Feedback focuses on both positive and negative aspects; strengths and limitations; Feedback is based on observed behaviour but it is not meant to judge the person as competent or incompetent. Invariably, feedback is a two way process mostly between the mentor and the mentee preferably both give and take points for improvement. 
If the feedback is so powerful tool, the questions arise, how to give feedback, Are there any useful tips?  Friends just think about these issues before we meet next time. 
Before leaving, I must tell you that feedback is not a new concept to Indian soil. The concept of giving a good feedback goes back to ancient times. The ancient Indian text (Manu Smruti) declares  that Sathyam bruyat, priyambruyat, nabruyatsathyamapriyam, which means that one should speak truth,   not bitter truth, but truth which is soothing and comforting to the person. Just reflect on this quote, imagine,  how can you give a great feedback. Until then, good bye.