A study investigated effects of the timing of grading on college students' evaluations of instruction. Results indicated that timing of grades appeared to influence students' evaluation of the course and instructor. Ratings were generally poorer following grade receipt than before it supporting predictions of expectancy theory. (MSE)

Observation of 401 college teachers indicates that teachers of different academic disciplines (arts/humanities, social sciences, natural sciences/mathematics) differ in the frequency of specific classroom teaching behaviors, but that what makes an effective teacher, in the perception of students, is consistent regardless of discipline.…

The use of reciprocal peer teaching (RPT) was evaluated by first-year medical students participating in gross anatomy laboratory sessions at the University of Ottawa. In RPT each student in turn served as a teacher of his peers. The students compared RPT with staff teaching. (Author/MLW)

A study investigated whether Biglan clusters of academic disciplines (hard/soft, pure/applied, life/nonlife) could be used to explain disciplinary differences in college student ratings of instruction. It was found that Biglan clusters do not explain the differences, many disciplines still emphasize knowledge acquisition over higher-order skills,…

Research on college students' evaluations of their male and female teachers is synthesized and compared with results of research on student evaluation of hypothetical male and female teachers. Results suggest the interaction of gender, teacher characteristics/behaviors, and student perceptions and expectations is complex. (MSE)

Compares graduate students as teachers with faculty as teachers by analyzing the course evaluations of 41 faculty and 68 teaching assistants (TAs) at Queens College of the City University of New York over an 8-year period. Reports that students rated TAs higher for introductory psychology four out of the seven semesters. (NL)

Discusses a report in which eight dyslexic, eight mentally disabled, and eight normal readers were asked to rank nine qualities both of their classroom teacher and of an ideal teacher. Discovers that comparisons of ideal and actual teacher ratings within each group demonstrated significant concordance for the normal and disabled groups, but not…

In a study using student rating data from over 8,000 course sections in a large university, disciplinary differences and the value students placed on the time they spent preparing for class are correlated with students' evaluations of teaching. Implications for faculty promotion and tenure policy, instructional improvement, and further research…

A study in one private university classified four academic disciplines as hard or soft and pure or applied, then compared student evaluations of courses for organization, breadth of coverage, group interaction, enthusiasm, grading, and individual rapport. Results suggest a single evaluation form may not be appropriate for all disciplines.…

A study of 42,407 college students' ratings of teachers in 5 departments and at 4 instructional levels (first-year through graduate study) revealed that perceptions of improvements needed in teaching skills varied significantly according to instructional level, class size, and discipline. Implications for college administration and instructional…

Compares differences in successive pretest/posttest scores for 46 undergraduate volunteers following the application of distinct teaching formats to each of 3 consecutive subsections of a human physiology course. Indicates scores increased favorably for audio-visual lecture and self-study tutorial formats but no significant increase for didactic…

Reports findings of two experiments examining perceived differences among teaching styles and identifying subjects' perceptions of their own teaching styles. Teaching styles were rated by 188 elementary education students and 99 music students using transcripts from audiotape recordings of music classroom sessions. Found feedback more effective…

This combination report and guide is intended to assist a broad audience of state and local educational administrators, teacher educators, and state policymakers. The first chapter of the guide examines (1) current views from the field regarding procedures for defining teacher effectiveness, teacher supply and demand, factors affecting teacher…