Re: [Phys-l] Research into student evaluations

["John Clement" <clement@hal-pc.org>]

> There exists the Duke University DUET study.  My knowledge of the study
> comes from several sources; see e.g., Valen E. Johnson, "Teacher Course
> Evaluations and Student Grades: An Academic Tango," Chance, Vol. 15, No.
> 3, 2002.
>
> http://www.amstat.org/publications/chance/153.johnson.pdf

This has been cited before, but it is a good reminder that it should be read
by all.

Indeed it is an academic tango.  The original tango was a dance with a warm
body which came from the brothels in Buenos Aires.  And reputedly it was
originally men dancing with men.  The tango is a dance where one person is
firmly in control, right or wrong.  The SETS have the effect of strongly
promoting grade inflation, and they also dampen PER based teaching.

John M. Clement
Houston, TX