A Comparative Study of Teachers' Performance Evaluation Methods in Australia, Finland, Iran and USA

The aim of present research was a comparative study of teachers' performance evaluation methods in Australia, Finland, Iran and USA. In this qualitative comparatively study, the strategy of country selection and level of analysis were "different social systems, different educational outputs" and macro (countries) respectively. The findings reveal that in all the selected countries, teachers' performance evaluation methods are done for the two purposes of accountability and professional development. Also, the findings indicated that in Finland and Iran, results of performance evaluation do not have a great impact on the employment status of teachers, while in Australia, the purpose of evaluation is to issue teaching certificates and continuous career improvement or to fire teachers who cannot or do not willing to perform professionally. Another finding revealed that all the selected countries have similarities in the evaluation indicators - such as identifying and attention to the needs and individual differences of students, use of new technologies in the teaching-learning process, proper relationships with colleagues, and professional participation. Of course, indicators such as emphasis on having excellent thought power (in USA), adherence to Islamic, moral and religious values (in Iran) and awareness of various dimensions of the teaching profession - social, philosophical, psychological, sociological & historical foundations of education (in Finland) are more important in the process of evaluating teachers' performance. Findings also showed that all the selected countries are similar in using various methods of teachers' evaluation performance - such as direct observation of the teacher, feedback from peers, principal, parents & self-evaluation. However, consultative and formative evaluation methods in Finland and lack of use of academic record of students and learners’ performance in Iran are among differences of these two countries with others.