why is it important to evaluate teaching?

Answer 1

I don't know many teachers who think they're doing a brilliant job, so evals are good to give positive feedback.
For the rest of us mortals, they're to remind us that raising our game is compulsory, and it should happen before the next one!!

Answer 2

I'm a graduate teaching assistant...someone who is learning, among other things, how to teach. I think evaluations are critical to my evolution as a teacher. Students write things on evaluations (especially anonymous ones) that they would never say to the teacher directly. But those are the comments we most need to hear (or at least read.)

The bottom line is this---content knowledge is only one aspect of the job. I teach math, and no matter how well I know it, no one will learn much from me if I sound like a robot or write too small on the board or use the wrong color marker or whatever. These are all things that will only be witnessed by my students. If we don't ask for our students' opinions, we will never know about all these quirks and annoying habits. I know I'm goofy, but I'm sure I have no idea just how goofy I look in front of a class.

Trust me...evals are a good thing. If we didn't get them, we'd all assume we were above average teachers, just like everyone assumes they're an above average driver because no one ever evaluates them. Imagine how much better most of us would drive if we got regular anonymous evals from our passengers and other drivers :)

Answer 3

So that marks are given fairly to all of the students in a particular area. Some teachers like to give their students material beyond their actual abilities, some don't teach the curriculum, and some don't even teach at all, they just sit at their desks and let their students hang out. If their teaching wasn't evaluated, the poor students from the first teacher would most likely have lower marks than the third.

Answer 4

If there were no evaluation how could you tell if the teacher or teaching system was any good.

Even exam results are a form of teaching evaluation.

Answer 5

Why is it important to evaluate anybody? Isn't it just as good to take your car to a crummy mechanic as a good one? Are you just as likely to eat at a lousy restaurant with bad food and poor service as you are at a place where the food and service is wonderful?

I could go on, but I'm sure you get my point. Teacher evaluations are critical in deciding which classes a student takes... they'd rather be taught by someone who does his or her job well than someone who everyone knows doesn't.

Evaluations are critical for younger teachers, as well. They can get a lot of good advice as to how to better manage their time and students in the class.

Answer 6

I've heard several teachers say that their teaching isn't evaluated nearly as much as the learning targets reached. This takes no account of the efforts made in helping students.

Answer 7

So your principal can make your life miserable...

j/k

Teachers get evaluated to ensure that they are teaching the curriculum that needs to be taught and that the students are meeting state standards.

Teachers sometimes ask colleagues to evaluate them so that they can receive feedback on how to improve their teaching.

Answer 8

To pick up on trends. If one student has a poor comment...it's probably the student. If a larger percentage of the group has the same comment, it's probably the teacher and the teacher needs to be evaluated for being in the right profession.

Answer 9

So that your line manager can tick all the right boxes on the evaluation sheet and your faculty can apply for Beacon Status.

Burnt-out? Cynical? Me????

Answer 10

those who can't teach children, teach teachers. !