Lecturers as evaluators: The Birmingham experience

ABSTRACT

This paper describes the origins, development and implications of the Course Evaluation Scheme which operated at the University of Birmingham between 1974 and 1978. The Scheme was an interesting example of group collaboration among lecturers to evaluate each other's courses through reciprocating partnerships of teacher and evaluator and the use of a flexible combination of evaluation procedures designed to illuminate the characteristic features of each particular course. Implications for evaluation methodology, staff development and course development are discussed as a result of the accumulated experience of the Scheme.