“The value-added method compares student performance from one year to the next to evaluate a teacher's abilities. It has been sharply criticized by some union leaders and experts as flawed and unfair, but applauded by others, including President Barack Obama.”
I have mixed emotions on the use of the value-added method to assess teacher performance. On the one hand, I would like to know how effective my teaching is and would love to use the information to make changes to my teaching methods if needed. On the other hand, the use of standardized tests to determine the future of my teaching career gives me a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach! Standardized tests have been criticized for decades. There are so many factors that can inhibit the score that it does not seem fair to have a person’s career hinged on them. The value-added method compares student performance from one year to the next to evaluate a teacher's abilities. "It has been sharply criticized by some union leaders and experts as flawed and unfair, but applauded by others, including President Barack Obama."(Llanos)
Reference:
Llanos, C. (2010, Nov. 11). Los angeles to develop value-added teacher evaluations. L.A. Daily News. Retrieved on November 12, 2010 from http://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/2010/11/11/mct_cateachereval.html?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mrss.
I, too, have the same mixed emotions about teacher evaluations being tied to assessments. Last year, I had a group of students who were all above average and scored very well on standardized assessment. This year, I my juniors are more varied in ability. I expect different results on their standardized tests. Does this mean that my teaching ability is somehow less this year?
ReplyDeleteAlso, I have heard many stories about school districts, specifically in Chicago that tied teacher salaries to student assessments. In these schools, cheating on these tests were at an all time high. When a teacher's future is predicated on a group of students who know they control their future, and don't really like that teacher, unethical behavior exists.