2008 Woodie Awards
Roles reversed - Students grading teachers
Derrick Sanchez
Date created: 5/2/05 Section: FEATURES
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"Can't teach a class if his life depended on it."
"He is the reason why people drop out of school."
"He must be the worst professor alive."
Have you ever heard your friends talk about certain teachers like this? Well, these feelings are not just expressed in campus conversation anymore-they can now be found on the Internet through teacher rating Web sites.
Teacher rating sites contain anonymous student reviews on teachers that can be read by any student with Internet access. The content has made teachers question their quality of teaching and reputations, and some have even led to lawsuits in recent years.
Students use Web sites such as RateMyProfessors.com and TeacherReviews.com because they are quick ways to check teachers before actually enrolling in a class.
"I actually use the Web sites to understand how the teacher teaches and this helps me with the grading policy," said Kevin Umali, Skyline student. "I love these Web sites because they help me know what the class is all about."
Math professor Rick Hough, has a mixed opinion about the sites.
"I certainly like how students get together to discuss teachers and see what teachers work for them," said Hough, "but the problem that I see is that I noticed most of it wasn't very constructive criticism, like 'this person sucks' or 'I just love this person.'"
Examples of such comments can be found in the many generic "worst teacher at Skyline" or "best teacher at Skyline" comments offered throughout the sites, often without explanation of why the rated teacher is so good or bad.
According the "FAQ" section of RateMyProfessors.com, the goal of the site is "to be a resource for students. It also gives you, the user, a place to voice your opinion. It gives you a place to make a difference in your education," according to the site's FAQ page.
This is a use that extends beyond a student's current campus to other schools that the student may be interested in attending later.
Since many schools offer a variety of classes with the option of different teachers, it can be difficult to find out which teacher is right for you.
"He is the reason why people drop out of school."
"He must be the worst professor alive."
Have you ever heard your friends talk about certain teachers like this? Well, these feelings are not just expressed in campus conversation anymore-they can now be found on the Internet through teacher rating Web sites.
Teacher rating sites contain anonymous student reviews on teachers that can be read by any student with Internet access. The content has made teachers question their quality of teaching and reputations, and some have even led to lawsuits in recent years.
Students use Web sites such as RateMyProfessors.com and TeacherReviews.com because they are quick ways to check teachers before actually enrolling in a class.
"I actually use the Web sites to understand how the teacher teaches and this helps me with the grading policy," said Kevin Umali, Skyline student. "I love these Web sites because they help me know what the class is all about."
Math professor Rick Hough, has a mixed opinion about the sites.
"I certainly like how students get together to discuss teachers and see what teachers work for them," said Hough, "but the problem that I see is that I noticed most of it wasn't very constructive criticism, like 'this person sucks' or 'I just love this person.'"
Examples of such comments can be found in the many generic "worst teacher at Skyline" or "best teacher at Skyline" comments offered throughout the sites, often without explanation of why the rated teacher is so good or bad.
According the "FAQ" section of RateMyProfessors.com, the goal of the site is "to be a resource for students. It also gives you, the user, a place to voice your opinion. It gives you a place to make a difference in your education," according to the site's FAQ page.
This is a use that extends beyond a student's current campus to other schools that the student may be interested in attending later.
Since many schools offer a variety of classes with the option of different teachers, it can be difficult to find out which teacher is right for you.
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