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Research is at an early stage, but is causing widespread interest. Most lecturers add notes in the margins of students' essays, normally fewer than ten words. However, because tutors can talk as they correct the work, much more detailed and complete feedback can be given.

Imagine you could open up a student's essay on your computer screen, press a button and from that moment on everything you said and any corrections you made on the work were all recorded on video. If you highlighted something, underlined a spelling mistake or talked about the organisation of the essay, it would all be recorded.

They could then play it back, and listen and watch as you commented on their essay. You could get them to watch the video and then redraft their essay. Moreover, it wouldn't require any fancy software, just standard screen recorder software that works at a click of the mouse.

Forsyth and Kerr studied the effect of positive feedback on university students who had received low grades (C, D, E and F). They found that the weaker students actually performed worse if they received encouragement aimed at boosting their self-worth.