A multiple criteria information system for pedagogical evaluation and professional development of teachers

Abstract

Information systems for the evaluation of pedagogical practices aim to improve teaching activity and encourage the pedagogical development of teachers. The implementation of these systems has been interpreted in different ways, depending on each school’s administration board and/or the person responsible for the evaluation process. This ambiguity (and inherent subjectivity) is a barrier to the principles of transparency, equity and fairness in the pedagogical performance evaluation of teachers. From this premise, the main objective of this paper consists in proposing a multiple criteria information system to support the evaluation of pedagogical practices. By combining cognitive mapping and the measuring attractiveness by a categorical based evaluation technique (MACBETH), our framework allows for the conception of a more transparent evaluation system, bringing new insights to the pedagogical appraisal and professional development of teachers. The strengths and weaknesses of our framework are also discussed.

Keywords:

• decision making
• cognitive mapping
• multiple criteria decision analysis
• management information systems
• pedagogical practices
• development of teachers

Acknowledgements

A previous and unpublished version of this paper was presented at 8th International Forum on Knowledge Assets and Dynamics, held in Zagreb, Croatia. The authors wish to thank the superb contribution and infinite willingness of the panel members: Anabela Gonzaga, Carla Jesus, Celina Justino, Liliana Gens, Vanda Martins and Vera Vieira. The authors gratefully acknowledge use of the services and facilities of the School of Management and Technology of Santarém, Portugal. The third author also acknowledges financial support from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia and FEDER/COMPETE (grant PEst-C/EGE/UI4007/2013).