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In some countries the concept – not to mention the use – of teacher appraisal sparks discussion just about wherever and whenever it is mentioned. According to what criteria? Who decides? And what should the results of teacher appraisals be used for? However, education stakeholders are beginning to find some agreement in the idea that teacher appraisal can be a key lever for increasing the focus on teaching quality and continuous professional development for teachers, in keeping with the growing recognition that the quality of teaching affects student learning outcomes. Highly visible teacher appraisal also provides opportunities to incentivise, recognise and reward teaching competence and high performance. This, in turn, may help address concerns about the attractiveness of teaching as a career choice and about the image and status of teachers in a number of OECD countries, including teachers’ feelings that their work is not sufficiently valued. Since formative appraisal can also help to raise teachers’ self efficacy, it is a key component of effective teacher policies.
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This chapter considers the features of different approaches to teacher appraisal, i.e. the mix of instruments used in different teacher-appraisal models, including self-appraisal, classroom observation and portfolios, and the elements of performance that are appraised, including planning and preparation, the classroom environment, teaching approaches and contributions to school development. The chapter also examines whether appraisal is voluntary or mandatory, and the frequency with which teachers are appraised.
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Most of us were lucky enough to have some great teachers: teachers who inspired us, who opened up new worlds for us, and whom we remember as people who changed the course of our life or deepened the meaning of it. But what makes a teacher great? And who gets to decide? This was the subject of intensive discussions among ministers and union leaders in the third International Summit on the Teaching Profession that was held on 13-14 March 2013 in Amsterdam.
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