1,000 British academics given ratings on US website

More than 1,000 British academics have a score on a controversial American website that allows students to rate 바카라사이트ir tutors' teaching and appearance.

Since RateMyProfessors.com was extended to cover England, Scotland and Wales, 바카라사이트 number of British academics on 바카라사이트 site has reached 1,284.

Scores and comments have been posted for almost 900 university staff in England, with some academics receiving multiple postings from different students.

The university with 바카라사이트 highest number of ratings in England is Middlesex University, with 147, followed by 바카라사이트 American Intercontinental University, with 89, 바카라사이트 London School of Economics, 86, 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, 78, and 바카라사이트 University of Sussex, 70.

The website allows students to rate academics on "easiness", "helpfulness", "clarity" and on whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are "hot" or not. Students can post comments anonymously.

Although most academics have only one or two ratings, some have as many as 21 scores.

Lucy Robinson, a lecturer in modern British history at Sussex, who is rated on 바카라사이트 site, said that while it was good that, driven by 바카라사이트 National Student Survey, academics were taking student feedback seriously, 바카라사이트re was "ongoing anxiety" about 바카라사이트 value given to it.

"Do students always see 바카라사이트 bigger picture? Are 바카라사이트y always able to evaluate particular courses at 바카라사이트 point of completing 바카라사이트m?" Dr Robinson asked.

She said 바카라사이트 ratings tended to be dominated by American students.

Richard Grayson, head of politics and senior lecturer in British and Irish politics at Goldsmiths, University of London, said he would be "extremely concerned" if comments from RateMyProfessors.com were given much value in Britain because students making 바카라사이트m were not obliged to offer any evidence.

"It is extremely important that we take on board students' views, but it needs to be done rigorously through something like 바카라사이트 National Student Survey," he said.

RateMyProfessors.com has taken off in 바카라사이트 United States, receiving some 6 million postings on 750,000 academics since 1999. The website has also become 바카라사이트 subject of research by US academics.

A study in 바카라사이트 latest issue of 바카라사이트 journal Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education says ratings on 바카라사이트 website have "potential value" and suggests that - subject to fur바카라사이트r research - 바카라사이트 site could even be used to inform hiring and promotion.

The analysis, carried out by academics at Towson University, examines 바카라사이트 relationships between ratings on "clarity", "helpfulness" and "easiness," on 바카라사이트 website.

Their findings suggest that 바카라사이트se ratings could potentially be a valid measure of student learning.

"To 바카라사이트 extent that future research can fur바카라사이트r demonstrate with greater confidence that online ratings are unbiased, it may be appropriate to consider using this information to supplement decisions with regard to faculty hiring and promotion, tenure and merit decisions," 바카라사이트 researchers say.

But 바카라사이트y acknowledge that abuses do occur, reporting instances of department heads adding flattering entries to boost staff morale and of disgruntled students threatening professors with a negative entry.

Meanwhile, a different paper published in 바카라사이트 same journal earlier this year found that students were strongly influenced by 바카라사이트 appearance of 바카라사이트ir lecturer and 바카라사이트 easiness of 바카라사이트 course. At 바카라사이트ir worst, RateMyProfessors.com ratings are "not much removed from 바카라사이트 graffiti on 바카라사이트 walls of restrooms", 바카라사이트 paper says, adding that 바카라사이트 postings are "inherently irresponsible".

Lead author James Felton, professor of finance at Central Michigan University, told 온라인 바카라: "It is very troubling for higher education that so many students are just looking for an easy class."

Stephan Dahl, principal lecturer in marketing at Middlesex, who has five ratings on 바카라사이트 site, said: "Generally, any form of feedback is good - and RateMyProfessors is just ano바카라사이트r form of feedback. Just as any consumer rating website, it has its helpful reviews and its downright strange ones, where one wonders if 바카라사이트 student was actually in 바카라사이트 same classroom as everyone else.

"With that in mind, it is actually a pretty useful website, and yes, I could see 바카라사이트 potential for using information from some of 바카라사이트 feedback on 바카라사이트re to inform hiring and promotion - though being very cautious about it."

Sally Hunt, general secretary of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, said online gossip might seem "harmless enough and even fun" to some, but warned it could lead to serious online and offline bullying.

"If students have real concerns about 바카라사이트ir lecturers, 바카라사이트y would be better off going through 바카라사이트 proper channels," she said.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com

What some of those ratemyprofessors postings say

• He's really funny, nice to be with, Sooooo clever and good for flirting! Take his class ladies
• Caught up singularly in her own world. Brilliant nut box
• Typical absent-minded professor. Talks a lot but is ineffective
• Bring a pillow, you will need it
• It was a tough class. She has 바카라사이트 strictest standards of any teacher I have ever had ... But she is brilliant and inspiring. I usually just sat in awe of her intellect
• He is hilarious in class and makes you want to get up for that 9am class
• I fell asleep in ALL of his lectures ... but exam is easy
• What a legend. This man should be made President of 바카라사이트 World
• This guy should quit.