OPENING INCIDENT

A Master's student in Human Resource Management (1999) explained her staff experience of the appraisal system:

The experience described above may sound familiar to you. Given the increasing pressure on teachers to improve the quality of education, educator appraisal instruments need to contribute to effective teaching and learning. This study unit attempts to equip you with the knowledge and skills you will need to apply appraisal instruments effectively.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this study unit, you will be able to

• • identify the reasons for staff having a negative attitude towards appraisal and describe strategies that can address this negative attitude

• • draw up plan for conducting classroom observation

• • identify and apply certain methods for conducting classroom observation

• • provide feedback to appraisal

• • complete an appraisal record

• • write a case study on the influence of appraisal errors and how to deal with them.

Key concepts

definition of staff appraisal

benefits of staff appraisal

climate for appraisal

self-evaluation

classroom observation

feedback (appraisal interview)

peer review

appraisal interview

rater errors

stereotyping

halo effect

central tendency

unwarranted strictness/leniency

You will encounter all of these concepts throughout your text. Pay careful attention to what they mean, since this will help you to answer the various questions that you will be asked later on.

INTRODUCTION

The importance of appraisal in organisations cannot be overemphasised. Although there are many similarities in the reasons why organisations have appraisal systems, the nature of the organisation dictates the nature of the system of appraisal it will use.