Establishing a rating system for Teachers of Argentine TAngo CLASS/GROUP LESSONS

[Arthur Greenberg <AHGberg @AOL.COM>]

Hi Listeros:

There are some things that are quite readily measurable and analyzed so the
results can be passed on to others who require the ratings involved.

There are some things that are simply impractical to measure or analyze!

Material things are easily measurable.....crash tests for automobiles,
ratings for vacuum cleaners, mix masters, tools, even paint.

How do you handle subjective evaluations!?  How do you handle objective
evaluations?

Measuring peoples abilities to present a class in Argentine Tango seems
elusive at best partly because one can make all the attempts to measure the
intangibles of the human element and come away unsure that you have succeeded
in achieving the desired goals.  The usefulness of certain ratings might be
considered not useful because the ratings are applied poorly based on
inaccurate judgement.  Taste enters into ratings!  I like this person's
personality.  I don't like this one's manner.  Subjective observations must
be segregated from objective observations.

To begin with one should start by asking for credentials!  What credentials
qualify  someone who presents themselves as a "Teacher".  How long has the
person been dancing?  How long does a person have  to  dance in order to
"know"  what they are teaching.  Self anointed experts abound.  If the facts
be known about the background of a "self anointed" expert.....they must be
able to present their material to an on going class and the class must
continue to learn and improve.  Short term work-shops prove little about the
capability of teachers to teach!

A few questions might help establish how "good" a teacher might be!

1.  Does the teacher know the subject matter they are trying to teach?
2.  On a rating scale of 1 to 10 how well do they know the subject matter
they are teaching? How long have they been dancing!
3.  Are their methods of presentation (teaching) sound?
4.  Do they use the "Gestalt" method of teaching ?
5.  Do they communicate well so that they are reaching (most) of the people
in the class?
6.  Are they clear in presentation!
7.  Is the presentation geared for the class participants?
8.  Is the class enjoying the "learning process" they are being subjected to?
9.  At the end of a measured period of time are the participants in the class
showing the benefit of the teaching.  Are the pupils learning?
10.  Is too much (too little) material being presented for the pupils to
digest?
11.  Is the teacher going too fast? Too slow!
12. Is the class interesting?  Boring?
13.  Does the teacher teach to "good Tango music"?
14.  Does the teacher teach pupils  to listen to the Tango music?
15.  Are the multiplicity of skills needed to dance the Tango made a mystery
or does the teacher know how to make it seem easier than it appears?
16.  Are reviews offered to assure that the learning process is taking place?
17.  Is the teacher aware that different learners achieve by different
presentation methods.  Do teachers present things too technically?  Do
difficult things seem to fall in place easily and are woven into the fabric
of the dance ?

Rating scales can generically be set up to evaluate a teacher presenting a
class provided there is some reasonable acceptance of standards that must be
established so that something can be evaluated by several different people on
the same basis.
Setting up standards and criteria first would certainly go a long way for
laying the groundwork which would enable someone to "rate the capability of a
Teacher who presents Argentine Tango.

(To be continued!)

The above is just the beginning of this discussion!  It has been going on for
longer than I can remember!

Sincerely,
Arturo
AHGberg @aol.com
West Palm Beach, Florids, USA