Teach Now (Teaching Certification): Reflection on Teacher Evaluation

Module 6 Unit 4 Activity 3

This was a non-graded one...

Reflection on Teacher Evaluation

Evaluations really help people learn where they may be at a certain task or a job. Receiving feedback based on their performance can really help a teacher improve and having constructive criticism can guide the educator in their daily tasks. Teaching is sometimes difficult to evaluate as it is subjective as well as the students may learn better with certain types of personality, styles, or a numerous other factors that involve their teacher. Because of this, it is very difficult to have a one size fits all kind of criteria for the teachers.

When I did my observation/evaluation class in our masters, it really opened my eyes to what an observation is an how a successful evaluation will take place. Before I took that course I really always had a negative view of classroom observations, as if the teacher had done something wrong. I never thought it was the teacher who would initiate this to better her/himself professionally, and grow as an educator.

Reading the links that were recommended by the Teach Now site were useful but they failed to mention the pre-conference which is one of the biggest parts of the observation/evaluation process. There are some observations that are unannounced but there still needs to be a clear goal or purpose as it will be better for the evaluator to know what kind of evaluation instrument would be beneficial and the specific criteria they are going to observe.

I feel the most comfortable being evaluated by my peers or colleagues as those are the people who I usually learn the most from. The pre-conference needs to be established and words need to be carefully evaluated but in the real world it might be a lot harder because different people have different assumptions of words, and degrees to measure words. Recommendations should remain neutral as it needs to be constructive and the observer should refrain from giving their personal opinions when evaluating.

Recording my own classes could also be a great way to self-evaluate as long as I am being constructive, factual and as objective as I can be. Self-evaluation gives educators room to reflect on their own practice and find out if what they teach needs improvement or if it is successful.

Student evaluations or observations from head teachers are equally as crucial. Having surveys and working with students to shape the lessons and classes could be very effective. Having anonymous ways for students to truly voice how they feel they learn best could be a great way for teachers to understand what works or doesn’t work with the students. Also having head teachers observe classes can help give a better perspective by having announced and unannounced observations for more accurate sampling of the teacher’s lesson.

My mentor will hopefully be able to give me feedback about my procedures, management skills and my own feedback to the students. I also would like to get pointers and new ideas on different procedures or transition techniques. I am always willing to learn and I will be open to any constructive criticism or feedback that my mentor has for me.