Assessing teacher effectiveness

STUDENT EVALUATION FOR EFFECTIVE TEACHING: Dr. Ethel Selina Balachandran; Rajammal Publications, ``Bethel,'' 183, Kapaleeswarar Nagar, Neelankarai, Chennai-600041. Rs. 100 ($.3).

HOW DOES a teacher deliver the goods? The litmus test is no doubt the academic benefits that the students derive from the mentor. In addition, the way in which the personality of the students is shaped must count here. The slender volume under review contains much material related to research and is well organised and presented.

There has been an informal assessment of teachers by the students from time immemorial - the learners have a habit of giving a wide berth to mentors who do not come well prepared for the class and who do not teach well. But in modern times, when student evaluation of teachers is gaining acceptance, albeit slowly, there must be some scientific methods of doing it. This book gives useful information about the various possibilities in the field.

Knowledge of the subject and arousal of student interest supplement a sense of humour and neat appearance on the part of the teacher. The Rating Scale for Student Evaluation of Teaching Effectiveness (RASSETE) which the author has designed as an instrument for student evaluation will enable teachers in the realm of higher education to receive feedback from learners and thus to improve their teaching performance. A lot of technical details including Chi square tests find a place in the book. Adding to the value is an exhaustive bibliography. Pedagogues everywhere will find the book highly useful.

T. RAJAGOPALAN

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Features
Previous : Tenets of the Gita
Next     : Feudalism in Indian Society