Flavio di Giorgi, professor of USP
Bad school reviews, concerns regarding professors, and poor student performances–these topics, for you, may be none of your business. You might think that these matters should be made private; that these things should be discussed within the school premises only. But then, what if you came from one of those rumored schools? What if some of those professors are your friends or people you know, at least? And most importantly, what if those students, whose cries couldn’t be heard, are your family members? These problems, coming from a big or small community, affect the educational system.
“Rate Professor” websites, online survey systems on schools and professors for students, was made for the public. Although it might sound advantageous, there are still a few people who are against it. The reason behind why some people are against this idea is: they find it as a violation to their right of privacy. When a school or a professor gets mad, it’s either because of untrue stories or shame. Shame, because they are aware that what they’re doing are unethical, but they don’t find any reason to change such attitude. On the other hand, sadly, some students take online professor ratings for granted; they don’t take surveys seriously, and they even make fun of it. But that’s didn’t defeat the purpose altogether.
Several people find such online surveys a great advantage, especially for the future generations. We all know that everything we do today could affect the future, which is why people of today are doing the most they can. These “rate professor” sites still hold authentic and context-consistent reviews that if the student was discriminating enough, he would know that the one who wrote the review was really telling a balanced story. Through these truthful and balanced stories, these review sites increase in credibility and the spillover effect of this is that the professors, themselves, will also depend on it to do self evaluation.
It’s also a way for the professor to get to know his students. You know how grumpy and old-fashioned some seasoned professors can be. They think that because a certain style has worked in his time, he would think that it would still work now. However, times change and the people also shift preferences. When these “rate professor” sites serve as their eye to the other side of their profession (how they ACTUALLY do their job), it gives him more impetus to adjust.
At the end of the day, online ratings will count so if you ever get around to writing one, make it as truthful and as balanced as possible. The future somehow depends on you, you know that!
Image by Leo Caobelli
