Teachers in almost every school use evaluations to assess what the student is learning and retaining. Evaluations, also known as assessments, tests or quizzes, happen frequently during the school and college years.
Evaluations not only shed light on what a student is learning but they also shed light on the ability of a teacher's instruction methods. According to Virtual University Design and Assessment, assessment of students is a key issue in education. (See Reference 2)
Grading evaluations can have both positive and negative effects. According to Virtual University Design and Assessment, evaluations produce feedback, which is an important tool that allows learners to understand whether or not they are on the right track. (See Reference 2)
If a student fails too many evaluations, he may not be able to move on to the next course, or grade level. Likewise, if a particular teacher has an unusual amount of students failing exams or other evaluations, the teacher herself may get an evaluation. Grading evaluations thus help to maintain a good standard of education.
Job evaluations ensure the company is getting what it's paying for, that is, your exceptional service. By evaluating the jobs of employees, employers can rest assured things are being handled properly and reward those who do the job best.
A positive effect of having a job evaluation is that they can be gateways to wage and salary negotiations. It's typical to expect an increase in earnings during each evaluation, as long as the employer's standards are met.
Below-par evaluations can result in a few scenarios. For one, the employer could fire an employee. Usually, an employee won't be terminated due to one evaluation though. The employee may be reprimanded or temporarily suspended.
Another possible scenario is if the vast majority of employees are not what the company would consider "up to par"; training strategies may be re-evaluated and additional training would be implemented.
Although employers and schools usually have a cost associated with completing such evaluations--even if that is just time--it is a cost that is worth it's weight. For a company to evaluate and ensure good employees, it is essentially an investment in which the company will see a return. For a school, the rewards may be maintaining an excellent reputation of quality education and seeing students succeed.