Re: Tutor Evaluation

[csjhs@eiu.edu (Jeanne H. Simpson)]

Jon, et al...

I have a couple of observations about tutor evaluations.  First, I applaud
efforts to conduct evaluations and urge everyone to do it. Tutors are
performing professional work and should be evaluated as professionals are.
I don't mean that they should meet an unreasonable standard. But I do mean
that they can point to the existence of an evaluation process as evidence
that they are regarded as professionals.  It is another way of
establishing credentials.

While the content and format of evaluations can vary considerably (context
is everything indeed), documentation should be maintained as consistently
as possible.  This also is part of the matter of establishing
professionalism. 

I learned a really simple and effective (incredibly effective)
method for immediate evaluation/assessment of an "intervention" recently;
I was serving an internship at a conflict resolution firm.  After each
effort, the team members would discuss the intervention in response to two
questions:  what worked?    next time, what should we do differently?

Implicit, of course, is the why?  

I liked this assessment/evaluation tool because it is simple and also
because it doesn't contain an accusation (what did you do wrong?)--it
looks forward and encourages improvement while affirming successes.

Jeanne Simpson
csjhs@eiu.edu