Linda's objections to the "evaluations" posted on the web is related to a problem that
occurs with some institutional evaluations. In addition to standard rating scales,
schools often allow or encourage students to provide written comments. These can
provide valuable feedback *to the instructor*. However, some schools (including mine)
use these written comments in evaluations by administrators and promotion/tenure
committees. There are some methodological problems with this use--usually those with
extreme opinions (some would argue extremely negative) are most likely to provide
written comments. These students also have, in effect, two "votes"--one from the
rating
scales and one from their written comments.
A more serious issue though, and I think this is what Linda is talking about, is that
the instructor has no defense, and no ability to confront the accuser, when potentially
slanderous comments are made. Recently, a written comment labeled me as racist. I
don't know what provoked that comment and I don't know where to get an answer.
However,
I am concerned how that comment might be viewed the next time I apply for a promotion.
Today, I visited the web site that provoked this thread. Many of the student comments
were humorous (e.g., "boring but an easy A--a 9"). However, some were not (e.g., "If
you need help outside of class, watch out--the guy is a raging homosexual.")
Reputations, rather earned or not, affect people's careers.
Rick, there is a difference between slander and evaluation.
"Linda M. Woolf" wrote:
> Rick Adams wrote:
>
> > It's a student resource that doesn't violate the rights of anyone. A good
> > teacher should have no fear of being publicly evaluated--and a poor
> > teacher _should_ have his/her lack of skill exposed to other students.
>
> I think the objection originally raised is related to your first sentence. That it
> is a "resource that doesn't violate the rights of anyone".
>
> The issue is not whether folks are concerned about public evaluation (although there
> may be some legal concerns in regards to this as well). Rather, the concern is that
> it is an anonymous, unmonitored, free-for-all web site.--
*****************************************************************
* Mike Scoles * [EMAIL PROTECTED] *
* Department of Psychology * voice: (501) 450-5418 *
* University of Central Arkansas * fax: (501) 450-5424 *
* Conway, AR 72035-0001 * *
********* http://www.coe.uca.edu/psych/scoles/index.html ********
