Students Can Spot Competent Teaching

Standardized test scores and value added teacher scores are much maligned.

But a recent New York Times article reports that teacher with high value-added scores were also recognized by their students as competent, caring teachers.

Thousands of students have filled out confidential questionnaires about the learning environment that their teachers create. After comparing the students’ ratings with teachers’ value-added scores, researchers have concluded that there is quite a bit of agreement.

Classrooms where a majority of students said they agreed with the statement, “Our class stays busy and doesn’t waste time,” tended to be led by teachers with high value-added scores, the report said.

The same was true for teachers whose students agreed with the statements, “In this class, we learn to correct our mistakes,” and, “My teacher has several good ways to explain each topic that we cover in this class.”

The Harvard professor who designed the surveys say that “Kids know effective teaching when they experience it.” Agreed!