A commitment to quality criteria for performance evaluation of teaching

Abstract

This paper addresses the issue of assessment of teacher performance aimed at  obtaining better results, evidenced through the academic product—students in higher education institutions.  During its development, emphasis is made on the necessity and advantage of having a system that permits the assessment of teachers’ excellence.  Theoretically, some definitions of teacher performance assessment are made, some prominent Latin-American academic papers are discussed, in relation to the characteristics of the instruments, the fields where they are assessed, advantages and disadvantages of several alternatives, among other important areas.   Criteria are proposed for an assessment system aimed at the function of teachers, planning, facilitating learning, Teacher-student dialectics, applicable through self-assessment, student´s opinion and institutional assessment. Reference is made to the procedure for the elaboration and implementation of the instruments as well as the mechanics for assessment.  Everything aimed towards the academic excellence of higher education as its main reason.