Professors rate back

It’s hard to imagine how students chose which classes to take before Rate My Professor.
Since its creation in 1999, the Web site www.ratemyprofessor.com has been a popular stop for college students looking to get information about professors before registering for classes. The site consists of ratings from students ranking over one million professors in categories including clarity, easiness and the ever- popular “hotness” rating.

Approximately 1,776 UTSA professors are listed on the site, representing every department. How do UTSA professors view this site?

One of the biggest issues with the Web site is that students are allowed to submit evaluations anonymously.

 Ken Burchenal, an English professor who is ranked favorably by most students on the site, said of the sites accuracy, “Anonymous evaluations of any kind allow respondants to make claims that are inaccurate and unfair without any fear of reprisal.  However, my guess is that signed or refereed evaluations would be even less accurate.

 “I am very interested in getting honest feedback about my teaching methods; I am less interested in what students think about me as a person,” he said.

Burchenal’s comment raises the issue that most professors seem to have with the site: How much of “Rate My Professor” is about the teacher, and how much of it is disgruntled former students venting?

Evaluations on the Web site tend to include emotional responses from students who have had bad experiences rather than fair responses to the teachers methods.

Italian professor Molly Zaldivar said, “I have heard that students who use these Web sites do so because they had horrible experiences with certain professors. Not sure how ‘fair and accurate’ a student can be when they go on these sites.”

Laura Oliver, a communication professor whose overall rating on the site is 4.7 out of 5, doesn’t pay much attention to it.

“I haven't really thought about it.  I got on the site a few years ago to see what it was all about, but haven't been on since,” she said.

Oliver didn’t see the validity to using the site to gain information on professors, since “word of mouth is a more reliable source for information,” she said.

    Zaldivar also stated she didn’t see the point in checking the Web site.

“Honestly, I have never logged on to look at this site. I get an idea of what students think of my classes in their student evaluations.”    

Most professors care what students think, but there are other ways of checking besides anonymous websites.

“I read my students’ course evaluation comments.  I believe I know what they think of me because I teach them how to communicate effectively, and they do tell me what they think through email, the discussion site on BlackBoard and they stop by the office,” Oliver said. 
 According to Zaldivar, what is said about her has nothing to do with her methods. “While I know to a certain extent what students say about me, I try not to let it influence the way I teach a course,” Zaldivar said.

    Most professors pay attetion to student feedback. Professors use responses to evaluate and improve their teaching effectiveness.

“Some of the criticisms I see over and over again are valid and fair,” Burchenal said. “Teaching is an art, not a science; every teacher must make choices about the structure of their courses that is consistent with his or her skills and philosophy.”

Teachers’ lack of familiarity with  Web sites like Rate My Professor should not be taken as apathy towards student opinions.

 The way students feel about the course and the professor  is important, but there are better avenues to express yourself. Be honest when filling out the IDEA surveys distributed in  classes. Talk to another administrator or dean if you have a real problem. If you are so bold, you could even talk to the professor yourself.

While looking up information about professors for classes you need to take, it is important to remember that not all the reviews on Rate My Professor are accurate.

Other options are available to students. Talk to a friend that has taken the  professor before and get their feedback. Meet the professor before registering for the class to get an idea of what the class might be like. You could even sit in on a lecture.

There are many options for students to get an idea of what to expect.

Just remember, don’t believe everything you read on the internet.