Teacher evaluation: characteristics of effective teaching aross grade-levels, subject areas, and cultures

Among those who support the use of teacher evaluations, there remains considerable debate regarding how teachers can be evaluated in the most valid and efficient manner. This presentation will summarize research that has identified characteristics of effective teaching that are remarkably consistent across a variety of contexts including grade-levels, subject areas, and cultures. In each of the reviewed studies, the general traits associated with good teaching were derived from specific and observable classroom behaviors of exceptional teachers. On a practical level, this suggests that teacher evaluations based on classroom observations can be done in a relatively easy and objective manner. This presentation will cover three parts: (1) the general traits of effective teaching consistent across grade-levels, subject areas, and cultures; (2) the validity evidence supporting their use; and (3) recommended applications