Send a tenured teacher or professor in to watch the instructor teach. Inform the instructor that he will be observed so he can prepare, and coach him on the criteria that he will be evaluated against. Then, have the observer take the list of criteria into the classroom and quietly observe an instruction session. This observation may last an entire day for an elementary, middle, or high school teacher, but it typically only lasts one course period for a university instructor. After the observation, the observing educator should write an evaluation report that measures the instructor against the criteria and offers suggestions for improvement. This report goes into the instructor's permanent file.
Distribute student evaluations at the end of the semester. The evaluations should be age-appropriate and ask questions designed by the administrators to cover topics such as the thoroughness of the lectures and activities to the achievement of learning objectives by the students. These evaluations are typically not weighted the same as instructor evaluations, but if an instructor has a high number of very negative evaluations, this could be a sign of trouble.
Examine the lesson plans or syllabi of the instructor. Look for well-considered lessons, lesson objectives, and assignments or activities that go along with each lecture or topic. These elements should go together and reinforce the lesson.
Ask the instructor to write a paragraph of two describing two to three strengths she has and two to three weaknesses. For each weakness, ask her to write a brief plan of action for improvement.
Gather these four items together in a portfolio for the year. Looking at all four elements together, write an assessment of what you feel are the instructor's strengths and weaknesses. Write an evaluation report. When the report is finished, have a coaching session with the instructor and go over the report and the other elements in his teaching portfolio. Have him sign a statement saying that he has read the assessment.