Job Discussion Forums

[denise]

Sorry, don't remember if this topic has been addressed before/recently...

Do you get evaluated by your students? If so, how valuable do you feel the feedback is? Are you disturbed by criticisms and flattered by praise? How much weight is given to your evaluations?

We get evaluated every term (i.e., every eight weeks). The students have little time to complete the evaluations--20 minutes to cover five classes, with both numerical rankings and free comments. Numerically, I usually do fine. It's the comments that I am more interested in. I am always delighted to read things like, "thank you," "difficult but helpful," "fun activities," etc., but, as has been suggested several times at Dave's recently, maybe the complainers are more inclined to write than are the students who are satisfied. I do take their suggestions into account (within reason, of course)--I am always modifying my syllabi and thinking of new ways to do things. And the big one for me is slowing down--I've been told since I was a wee little girl that I talk too quickly. Oooops! I'm working on it.

Anyway... I've never received any particularly nasty comments, so I have never taken them too personally, but I imagine that I would if anyone said anything really mean. And I try not to pat myself on the back too much when I hear nice things, because I assume it's the more motivated students who are saying them. My supervisor is fully supportive of his staff, so I never worry about him doubting me.

How 'bout the rest of you?

d

[Glenski]

In my high school, there are formal evaluations/questionnaires from the school. I rarely hear about any comments directed towards me.

I sometimes provide similar surveys myself. All anonymous, of course.

[dmb]

I have never had them done officially. But I have introduced them into my own lessons. (always making sure comments were anonymous. However students don't know what they want or really what they should be doing. I don't really take much notice of the comments.( "Teacher very good. Teacher my friend. But we need more grammar. No more writing. I good at writing) I guess the only reason I do them is as an activity in its own right

[Snoopy]

I always used to object to the idea of being assessed by students. Now, my references being uncertain, I might have to turn to former students whom I am still in touch with.

As Mr Chips said at the end of the film: "Children? I had hundreds".

[Gordon]

Now I don't have any assessments by students or supervisors. Actually I don't even think I have anyone overseeing what I do.
I used to teach at a school where students regularly assessed us and it was really important to our boss. They'd go over all the comments and ask us why a student would say such and such. Of course only the negative ones would be discussed and it made all the teachers really nervous. I tried not to get bothered if someone didn't like something, but of course I did.

[Ben Round de Bloc]

Where I teach, we're evaluated by students each semester. It's a standard form with two sections: 1) rate statements such as The teacher has a good command of the English language and The teacher provides adequate time in class for students to ask questions on a point system of 1 to 5, and 2) write answers to questions such as What things should be maintained? including a space for additional comments. Often the additional-comments space draws responses like Buy a new air-conditioner and I wanted my English class at 4:00 p.m. instead of 7:30 p.m. but that section was full when I registered, as if teachers control those things . . . on my way out now to purchase a new air-conditioner for the university, when I can't afford AC at home. Ya, right!

The evaluations are looked over by the department's administration first and then passed on to individual teachers. If a teacher received overall bad evaluations from a large percentage of students, I think administration would look into it, but I don't know of any case like that. By the way, we are not observed/evaluated by administration where I teach.

On a personal level I use my evaluations in a general way. For example, on my most recent evaluation a number of students didn't rate me very highly on variety of activities in class, so I'll make an effort to introduce more variety when planning for the upcoming semester.

[FGT]

We give regular (?every 3 months) anonymous questionnaires to students. The form is in Turkish (their native language) and is divided into two parts: teacher related and class(room) related; students tick either GOOD, OK, or INADEQUATE on a variety of subjects, eg: classroom management, reading, homework, use of video/OHP etc etc.

Results are converted into a percentage by our boss (who loves statistics), feedback is conducted by a DOS/senior teacher. Of course we look at the number, over 80 and I feel like I've had a pat on the back; less than 75 and I'm looking at the problems. There's also space for students to write their own comments, this is often the most revealing part (again, it's in their native tongue so they are free to write what they want, but the reader needs to REALLY understand what they mean).

I think this system works well BUT, for a year or so I haven't used video or OHP (my choice), I've not been marked down in that area (I assume because my students don't notice the lack) but now we have a ruling to use them, if I use it but don't use the technology well, I'll get criticised; before, I didn't use it at all but wasn't criticised... My last "score" was 97; next...?

[Sherri]

We used to do student evaluations at the end of each term (about every 6 months). The form was in English and Japanese and students could respond in either language. It was anonymous and students filled it out without the teacher in the room. Before we handed it out, we gave a copy of the form to all of the teachers so that they could give feedback on the form. We would all get together and talk about the questions on the form and if the questions were being posed in a helpful way to us. We regularly revised the form.

After getting forms back, the comments were translated and given back to the teachers. Then the teachers would meet with a senior teacher to discuss the results. I (as the DOS) told people not to place too much weight on one-off comments. Of course it is nice to read the pleasant comments and it is great boost for self-esteem. But sometimes students write really nasty, personal comments and that is just awful for the teacher. I would tell them not to take it to heart. It is more helpful to look at patterns in the comments and responses. So if a number of students say that the homework was too easy, or that the teacher's instructions were unclear, for example, then there is probably some truth in them.

I think evaluations done in this way can be useful for teachers who want to know what students think about their teaching but the comments and responses should not (and did not at my school) have any bearing on wages and contract renewals. Students are not professional educators and their role is one of "student" not "teacher evaluator"--when analysing the responses, this should always be taken into account.
Sherri

[struelle]

[struelle]

[Roger]

They are not genuine "assessments" by any stretch of my imagination: students are encouraged by our employers to report back on us. This is intimidating if you know it, but I didn't know it in my first year. It's done so they can weed out overseas-born teachers that they perceive do not fit into their socialist-ideal teaching environments.
I survived my probation period unawares, but in my second month I had a few scenes in which opposiing views came to light.
That CHinese students do not view it mildly if you make any condescending remarks about their country's institutions I learnt in a rather shocking way.

But Chinese students cannot evaluate western teachers objectively since our teaching objectives are fundamentally different from students' expectations/their schools' goals.

In one private training centre (LINGUAPHONE), during a summer holiday extra-curricular course I was removed towards the end of the course from jone of my classes - because these were totally demotivated and unruly guys, and the headmistress wanted their parents to get a flattering school report.