Performance appraisal methods and systems development in organizations

Performance Evaluation Methods for Instructors:

Similar to the workplace, performance evaluation is an important aspect for the classroom environment in which the instructor is the rater and the students are the ratees. In today's classroom, instructors use basic combination of papers, tests, exams, cases, and class participation as the basis for assessment and then provide the formal appraisal in the form of a grade. Notably, a comprehensive student appraisal consists of various methods of evaluating performance in order to obtain a wider picture of the student's needs and the areas he/she needs improvement. In addition to providing a broader perspective on student's performance, the use of various performance evaluation methods enables the instructor to make recommendations to support the development of the student. In Human Resource Management, there are various performance evaluation methods that have been developed to help employers in assessing the performance of their employees. In the same manner the classroom environment requires the development of different performance appraisal methods that offer more accuracy on the performance of a student and his/her development needs.

Methods an Instructor Might Use to Evaluate Performance:

The traditional performance evaluation method used by instructors over time is the popular teacher evaluation method. This method basically involves the use of student standardized test scores in order to verify student learning. As a result, the traditional teacher evaluation method has been viewed as an external force that is enforced upon the overall curriculum and the learner specifically. However, the method has received increased criticism and concerns in the recent past because it mainly occurs after learning has taken place and may not be effective in supporting student development. The criticism and ineffectiveness of the method has created the need for alternative performance evaluation methods for instructors.

One of the most significant alternatives that an instructor might use is alternative assessment that has emerged in recent times. This method uses activities that show what students can achieve with language through emphasizing on their strengths rather than weaknesses. In addition to being designed and structured distinctively from the conventional method, alternative assessment also involves different grading and scoring system ("Alternative Assessment," 2004). The major advantage associated with the alternative assessment performance appraisal method relative to the traditional method is that it enables instructors to emphasize that language learning is communication for beneficial purposes. Secondly, the method is also effective when used in the classroom environment because it's based on the concept that students can assess their own learning and learn from the evaluation process. The third advantage of the method is that it provides instructors with a means of connecting evaluation with review of learning strategies. Unlike the traditional teacher evaluation method, the performance of every student when using this method is affected by group dynamics.

The other alternative to traditional performance evaluation method that may be used by an instructor is the performance assessment technique. Unlike the conventional method, this technique requires students to exhibit knowledge and skills including the manner in which they solve problems. The method evaluates skills like the ability to apply knowledge in various disciplines, contribute to group work, and develop an action plan when facing a new condition. As a result, performance assessment method are suitable for determining whether students are accomplishing the higher standards established by the institution and states for all students. Some of the advantages of using this method include the fact that it's closely linked with the new way of teaching that provide instructors with more information about students' learning needs and enable them to alter the methods to meet the identified needs. Secondly, performance assessments permit students to evaluate their own progress and become increasingly responsible for their education. As compared to the traditional evaluation method, this evaluation technique requires more subjective judgment because they usually incorporate fewer questions. In this case, instructors need to decide how to grade students since there are no clear right and wrong answers ("Performance Based Assessment," 2010). Actually, this method has been criticized that it could be harmful and will not improve schooling.

The third alternative to the traditional performance evaluation method in the classroom is 360 degree feedback. This appraisal method that has mainly been used in the workplace can be used by instructors since the process of learning needs to be collaborative between instructors and their students. The 360 degree feedback could be helpful in evaluating student performance since it provides feedback that enables the learning process to evolve organically and keep students within the same level. The major strength of the method is that it provides the necessary feedback and provides reliability and validity over other methods. However, the main disadvantage associated with the method is that the tests and retests in this technique may not be consistent over time and may provide incomplete and/or biased feedback.

Adoption of the Methods:

The adoption of these performance evaluation methods in the classroom may be characterized by various barriers, especially for the 360 degree feedback method. The adoption of the alternative assessment and performance assessment methods is relatively easy than that of 360 degree feedback since the two are specifically designed for the classroom environment. The major reason associated to the barriers in adopting the 360 degree feedback in the classroom environment originates from the fact that it's designed for the working environment. The main barrier in adopting the method in the classroom environment is that its use usually requires voluntary participation of the individuals in providing the feedback, failure to which biased and incomplete feedback may be provided (Nowack, n.d.). The second barrier is that 360 degree feedback incorporates various steps for effective application, which may be inappropriate for the classroom environment.

The traditional method is characterized by various limitations that contribute to its ineffectiveness. Some of these limitations include the fact that it's a passive process, separates process from product, it document rather than facilitate learning, and the fact that it's a universal assessment. Alternative assessment and performance assessment methods overcome the limitations associated with the traditional technique since they facilitate learning and enable a student to evaluate their own progress. Since it provides necessary feedback, the 360 degree method is relevant in the classroom because it can promote collaborative learning between instructors and students. The performance evaluation methods can be applied in the workplace by combining them with the existing ones through the Human Resource Management.