The role of feedback from the school leader during teacher evaluation for teacher and school improvement

Since the turn of the century, teacher evaluation has been introduced around the world with the intent to improve teaching. However, in the literature on teacher evaluation, often findings reveal critical accounts about the effectiveness of feedback in teacher evaluation for teacher and school improvement. This article presents a qualitative study in eight schools where teachers did indicate to find the feedback they discussed with school leaders during teacher evaluation processes useful. In this study, we investigate whether we can identify what teachers actually do with this feedback and which factors contribute to their response. Our findings demonstrate the importance of school organizational characteristics and an integrated leadership approach for the feedback response of teachers. Also, our findings reveal how teacher evaluation is used in these schools to further school improvement.     

Teacher effectiveness and teacher growth from student ratings: An action research of school-based teacher evaluation

Teacher effectiveness evaluations are considered an effective mechanism for promoting teacher growth. We implemented teacher effectiveness evaluations in three Chinese secondary schools over two years and (a) developed an action research framework for school-based teacher evaluations composed of five links, i.e., purpose and consensus, data collection and analysis, data interpretation and feedback, data use, and evaluation of the actions and (b) found that “school-based” instruments of student ratings have valid statistical properties, and teacher effectiveness can be regarded as a single-factor holistic concept in different schools. We also (c) analysed 2-year longitudinal data and identified changing trajectories of teacher effectiveness as an example for data feedback and use. Teacher effectiveness presents changing trajectories for different subgroups, representing different ecologies in three schools and provides insights for teacher growth. A (d) meta-evaluation of the actions shows that most teachers are positive about this evaluation, although differences are observed between schools.     

The economic value of higher teacher quality

Most analyses of teacher quality end without any assessment of the economic value of altered teacher quality. This paper combines information about teacher effectiveness with the economic impact of higher achievement. It begins with an overview of what is known about the relationship between teacher quality and student achievement. This provides the basis for consideration of the derived demand for teachers that comes from their impact on economic outcomes. Alternative valuation methods are based on the impact of increased achievement on individual earnings and on the impact of low teacher effectiveness on economic growth through aggregate achievement. A teacher one standard deviation above the mean effectiveness annually generates marginal gains of over $400,000 in present value of student future earnings with a class size of 20 and proportionately higher with larger class sizes. Alternatively, replacing the bottom 5-8 percent of teachers with average teachers could move the U.S. near the top of international math and science rankings with a present value of $100 trillion.     

教师评价的局限与超越

高质量的教育需要高素质的教师,而高素质教师的成长需要科学合理的教师评价“保驾护航”。反观当前的教师评价,仍有诸多缺陷与不足。究其原因,主要在于教师“人的缺席”,而其局限的超越将是教师“人”的回归。     

Procedures for improving student teacher evaluation

Evaluation, Dr. Schall maintains, is designed to promote growth, not just to pass judgment or assign ratings.     

Student evaluation of teacher performance: Some initial research findings from Thailand

This paper presents results from pretest and pilot programs of student evaluation of teacher performance at Chulalongkorn University. Students were asked to rate their teachers' performance on a variety of items. To identify the dimensions of evaluation, the responses were then analyzed with cluster and factor analytic techniques. The two techniques produced broadly similar results. The statistical rationale underlying these techniques is discussed. The factor analysis identified four broad dimensions: (a) Teaching Method factor, relating to such aspects as the setting of objectives, the teacher's degree of preparation for the class, and the teacher's motivation of the students; (b) a closely related Teacher-Student Relationship factor, covering the giving of advice and help to students and the encouragement of questions from students both in and out of class; (c) a Text and Materials factor, relating to the provision of suitable references to books and other sources of information; and (d) an Evaluation and Feedback factor, relating to the way in which tests and assignments are administered, and the degree of help provided by the teacher.     

ICT teacher training: Evidence for multilevel evaluation from a national initiative

This paper is one of a pair that re-examines the evidence from a national initiative to train all teachers in England to bring them up to the level of newly qualified teachers, who are required to know when to use and when not to use information and communication technologies (ICT) in their professional practice. Reanalysis of data gathered for the 2004 evaluation uncovers the complexity of such professional development. The effectiveness of contrasting approaches to ICT-related teacher training was analysed using the national survey of 496 trainees and experts' reports on 11 of the 47 training providers. multilevel evaluation of professional development was shown to be robust for ICT teacher training, including a significant correlation between the views of experts and those of teachers. The presence of the middle level of 'organisational support and change' emerged as a particularly discriminating factor, indicating that higher-quality teacher training supports change in the classroom and in the school. Therefore, we recommend that all five of Guskey's levels be consistently adopted for the evaluation of ICT teacher training, and that research should also adopt a multilevel model. A second paper delves deeper to describe and contrast the highest and lowest-rated approaches to ICT teacher training.     

Measures and features of teacher effectiveness evaluation: perspectives from Iranian EFL lecturers

Educational Research for Policy and Practice - Reporting on the results of a sequential mixed-methods study conducted in the Iranian higher education context, this paper addressed measures and...