feedback loop
Output becomes input
A feedback loop is a cycle where outputs of a system become inputs that influence future outputs.
In engineering and biology, feedback loops regulate systems—a thermostat adjusting temperature, hormones triggering their own suppression.
The term extends to any self-reinforcing cycle: Social media creates feedback loops where engagement breeds more engagement.
Feedback loops can be positive (amplifying change) or negative (stabilizing toward equilibrium).
Ongoing measure of student grasp
- reflectionReturned light or thought
- critiqueDetailed evaluative analysis
- evaluationDetermining worth or quality
- responseAnswer to stimulus
improvement · adjustment · metacognition · self-assessment · peer review · correction · guidance · progress
Repeating sequence of events
- repetitionAct of redoing
- iterationRepeated procedural pass
- recurrenceReturn of something previous
- circularForming a closed curve
recursive · continuous · refinement · adjustment · revision · update · improvement · incremental
Communication and control science
- homeostasisBiological internal stability maintenance
- thermostatAutomatic climate control device
- servomechanismFeedback-controlled automatic mechanism
- self-regulationManaging one's own behavior
sensor · actuator · controller · regulation · stability · equilibrium · adaptive · automation
Adding support or encouragement
- escalationProgressive increase in intensity
- intensificationIncrease in degree
- amplifyIncrease in strength
- cascadeSuccessive downward flow
snowball · runaway · vicious cycle · virtuous cycle · compounding · exponential · spiral · acceleration
Reflected sound wave
- resonanceAmplified oscillation at natural frequency
- reverberationProlonged reflected sound
- microphoneAudio input device
- loudspeakerSound amplification device
squeal · howl · gain · latency · delay · monitor · earpiece · acoustic
formative assessment
Ongoing measure of student grasp
- reflectionReturned light or thought
- critiqueDetailed evaluative analysis
- evaluationDetermining worth or quality
response · improvement · adjustment · metacognition · self-assessment · peer review · correction · guidance · progress · adaptive learning
cycle
Repeating sequence of events
- repetitionAct of redoing
- iterationRepeated procedural pass
- recurrenceReturn of something previous
circular · recursive · continuous · refinement · adjustment · revision · update · improvement · incremental · successive
cybernetics
Communication and control science
- homeostasisBiological internal stability maintenance
- thermostatAutomatic climate control device
- servomechanismFeedback-controlled automatic mechanism
self-regulation · sensor · actuator · controller · regulation · stability · equilibrium · adaptive · automation · dynamic
reinforcement
Adding support or encouragement
- escalationProgressive increase in intensity
- intensificationIncrease in degree
- amplifyIncrease in strength
cascade · snowball · runaway · vicious cycle · virtuous cycle · compounding · exponential · spiral · acceleration · magnification
echo
Reflected sound wave
- resonanceAmplified oscillation at natural frequency
- reverberationProlonged reflected sound
- microphoneAudio input device
loudspeaker · squeal · howl · gain · latency · delay · monitor · earpiece · acoustic · interference
- roboticsrobot, android, humanoid, robotic arm, servo
- behavior changereinforcement, conditioning, positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, reward
- process improvementcontinuous improvement, process improvement, kaizen, plan, do
- Self-referenceself-reference, self-referential, recursion, recursive, meta
- amplifier circuitspreamp, power amp, tube amp, solid state, vacuum tube
- cell signalingreceptor, ligand, receptors, signaling, kinase
feedback loopfeedforward
Control anticipating disturbances
feed-forward · broadcast · monologue · dead end · one-way street
back, feed, loop, backing, backed, feeding, feedback, looped, backer