M.Ed. / This study forms part of a comprehensive research project concerning teacher competence and its evaluation. A pilot study had been completed by lecturers from the Education Department at Rand Afrikaans University in 1994/5. An analysis of the data identified eight factors linked to teacher competence. These are: * The learning environment * Professional commitment * Order and Discipline * Educational foundation * Teacher reflection * Co-operative ability * Effectiveness * Leadership In addition to the above, five factors concerning the person evaluating teacher competence were identified. These are: * Invitational feedback * Transparent feedback * Tactful feedback * Credible feedback * Culturally sensitive feedback This research essay is part of the research undertaken on tactful feedback provided by educational managers during teacher evaluation. Tactful feedback has been conceptualised to consist of the following four aspects, namely: clarity, motivation, approach and openness (Bell, 1988:176-177; Montgomery & Hadfield, 1989:105-107). This particular research paper, therefore, focuses on the aspect of clarity in tactful feedback and its implication for the management of teacher competence. In view of the preceding brief introduction, the motivation for this study will be discussed.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether teachers' perceptions of self-efficacy and collective teacher efficacy are interrelated and how these two constructs may be impacted by teacher demographic characteristics, such as educational level, grade level taught, and number of years of teaching experience. This study focused entirely on the interrelationships of teacher efficacy and collective teacher efficacy in three suburban, conservative Christian schools in north Texas. Specifically, the demographic characteristics of age, gender, ethnicity, particular school campus, number of years teaching, number of years teaching at the current school, highest degree received, type of teacher certification, certification grade level and subject area, grade level taught, and particular subject taught were studied for the non-random, convenience sample of 216 kindergarten through twelfth grade teachers. A correlational analysis of teacher efficacy and collective teacher efficacy yielded a Pearson r of .35 at a statistically significant level (p < .01); combining these two variables with teacher demographic variables in multiple regression analyses confirmed the relationship between teachers' perceptions of teacher efficacy and collective efficacy at a statistically significant level (p < .001). A review of the squared structure coefficients in the first multiple regression analysis (R2 = .284, p < .001) showed that individual teachers' perceptions of collective teacher efficacy explained the largest amount (43%) of the variance in teacher efficacy, followed by years of teaching experience (17%) and number of years of teaching at the current school (14%). A review of the squared structure coefficients in the second multiple regression analysis (R2 = .395, p < .001) indicated that individual teachers' perceptions of teacher efficacy explained the largest amount of variance in collective teacher efficacy (31%), followed the elementary teacher variable (22%) and particular school (19%).

Many school districts and alternative certification programs use standardized interviews such as the TeacherInsight developed by the Gallup Organization. The TeacherInsight is a Web-based interview consisting of multiple choice and Likert-style items that produces a score between 0 and 100. The Gallup Organization claims that it helps hire the best teachers. The study analyzed the relationships between the TeacherInsight scores and the eight Professional Development Appraisal System (PDAS) domain scores for 527 teachers. The TeacherInsight scores produced a statistically significant correlation with only one of the eight PDAS domain scores. However, even that correlation (r = 0.14) was weak. All eight PDAS domain scores were only able to account for an additional 1.9% of the variance of TeacherInsight scores, above and beyond what was explained by the teachers' age, gender, years of experience, and highest degree earned. Another finding was that 47.4% of the teachers hired had TeacherInsight scores below the district recommended cutoff score of 67. The findings do not support the ability of the TeacherInsight to identify more effective teachers, based on Professional Development Appraisal System scores. The findings also cast doubt on the extent of consideration that principals in this district give the TeacherInsight scores during the selection process. Recommendations for future studies are provided.

This quantitative study examined the correlation between how college level music students rated their teachers on the Fowler/O'Gorman Mentor Functions Questionnaire and how they perceived two aspects of their private music lessons: 1) to what extent they perceived their relationship with their teachers as positive, and 2) to what extent they perceived their teachers as good. The respondents for this study were 295 undergraduate and graduate music majors studying at 5 private universities or music schools. Positive correlations were found between the scores on the Mentor Functions Questionnaire (MFQ) and good teachers and positive lesson experiences. No correlation was found between the existence of gender congruity or the lack of gender congruity and the mean score on the MFQ. Respondents reported differences among their teachers' behaviors (p < .05): Role Modeling and Coaching behavior were perceived at significantly higher levels than the other six mentoring behaviors, whereas Friendship and Advocacy behavior was found at significantly lower levels. The behaviors of Personal and Emotional Guidance, Career Development Facilitation, Strategies and Systems Advice, and Learning Facilitation were found at levels closer to the mean. When role modeling and coaching behavior are present, students perceive teachers as good and lessons as positive. It is not necessary to be friends with a student in order to provide a positive lesson experience. Fowler and O'Gorman's mentoring behaviors have implications for improving the mentoring of collegiate music students.

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Humanities Education / PhD / Unrestricted

It is established in this research project that recognition of competence does not begin when a person takes on employment. For reasons alluded to in this project, it begins when a candidate is selected for initial teacher education and training. However, recognition of competence is a model that applies different methods or modes of recognition. These methods have been identified, their differences are indicated and the variations used according to the level of competence are clarified as well. Recognition of competence represents a new way of managing human resources in education. It is a model which emerges from paradigm shifts and the need for quality service in education. This model includes mechanisms of managing quality and standards such as the South African Qualifications Authority, National Qualifications Framework, National Standards Bodies, Standard Generating Bodies and Education and Training Qualifications Authority. The researcher identified key areas of success in the present and erstwhile recognition systems. However, it was found that these systems were inadequate for the retention of teachers. In a bid to search for solutions, the research unravelled recognition systems used in the private sector. Literature study revealed, in this regard, that there are inadequacies as well. The system in the private sector was severely affected by policies of the past dispensation. Nevertheless, it seems recognition of competence is well on its early stages in the education sector. Consequently, there is an emphasis on competencies to advance South Africa in world markets. The challenge of raising standards so as to make South Africa competitive . begins with empowerment and capacity building. Empowerment and capacity . building are complementary approaches in recognition of competence. These approaches recognise the inadequacies and disparities of the past. It is from this consideration that the fundamentals of recognition of competence are refocused on levelling the playing fields. In each case, the approaches are evaluated by pointing out the advantages and disadvantages. In order to establish the basis from literature review, the researcher used empirical research. Consequently, the theories on recognition of competence, empowerment and capacity building were complemented and verified by unravelling the real situation. Interviews and surveys were conducted. The findings reveal that there are a myriad of challenges and problems that still plague education. The researcher suggested guidelines to overcome the challenges and problems. Finally, whilst it is acknowledged that there are some good initiatives from the Department of Education, much is still to be done with regard to recognition of competence. The researcher made conclusions, recommendations on how to navigate our way out of these problems, and pointed out areas that need further research. / Thesis (PhD (Education Management))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Education Management and Policy Studies / unrestricted

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One of the most persistent issues in contemporary organizations has been how to evaluate individual performance. Basically, the problem is who should evaluate whom and against what productivity criterion. Educational institutions have been the organizations most concerned with this dilemma in recent years. As recently as September, 1973, teachers went on strike over accountability procedures. This study was conducted to identify which mode of teacher evaluation was most efficient, based on fairly objective performance criterion, and to establish a basis for viewing teaching style as leadership style. In existing research, superior ratings were the most used evaluation measure, student ratings were a rapidly growing mode of evaluation, self-ratings were considered biased, and peer ratings were used very little. Hence, who should do the evaluating was an unsolved problem. All four evaluation modes were employed in the present study for comparison.

The study was designed to determine and compare the perceptions of various groups with regard to the most and the last important characteristics and behaviors of effective teachers. The population for the study included (a) four groups of high school graduates selected at five year intervals beginning with 1980, (b) four groups of high school dropouts selected from the same five year intervals, (c) high school teachers, (d) high school principals and central office administrators, and (f) teacher educators. The instrument used to determine perceptions was a 28 item Q-sort. The items of the Q-sort were developed from a review of the literature on teacher effectiveness and from a review of the criteria for the evaluation of teacher effectiveness as used by the school district in which the study was conducted. The Q-sort items were deemed valid by a panel of teacher educators.

In recent decades, changes to federal and state accountability policy and related teacher evaluation systems occurred in the United States with minimal input from two of the largest groups of stakeholders impacted: principals and teachers. For this case study, I explored principals' and teachers' perceptions of their experiences with the Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS), specifically the role of leadership practices and use of the evaluation rubric as a policy tool within an evaluation process. The study took place at one elementary school. Teachers perceived the evaluation process as carrying out its intended purpose of improving instruction through professional growth. Principals and teachers viewed the teacher evaluation system and the teacher evaluation rubric, a policy tool designed to facilitate and inform the processes and practices used to improve instruction in their districts and schools, as effective. Important district-level decisions also impacted how principals and teachers perceived the T-TESS. District-level decisions included policy related to frequency of required observations, methods of including student performance data, decisions related whether to issue a single rating or multiple ratings, and evaluation of specialized teachers. School-based leadership behaviors and practices were also found to influence teachers' perceptions related to the effectiveness of teacher evaluation which included a focus on school culture, leadership style employed, evaluation training, and use of the evaluation rubric. The findings of this study have implications for policy decisions, district-leadership decisions, and school-based leadership practice related to teacher evaluation, both in Texas as well as the nation.