Assessment of Student Performance Effective teachers create discipline-specific tests and exams that require an appropriate level of mastery of the subject matter. These and other measures of learning require students to think critically and creatively about the course content rather than display mere memory of facts and concepts. Thus a good test, exam, or other evaluation can itself be a teaching device. Effective teachers require a number and variety of assignments appropriate to the level and purpose of the course objectives. Effective teachers require students to learn to read and discuss professional material in the discipline in the appropriate courses.
Effective teachers require students to use writing skills in appropriate courses.
Assessment of Course, Instruction, and Instructor Effective teachers are ones who are self-analytical and can define areas of weakness as well as strengths in their teaching. According to one Kinard Award winner, a good teacher is never satisfied but is always striving to improve. Effective teachers conduct systematic student evaluation of the course, reflect on this information, and take action appropriate to the recommendations and comments. Effective teachers seek input from peer evaluations and use these to improve instruction. This list is by no means complete, but we do believe that it covers many of the basic areas that define an effective teacher.