To summarize the findings: because they didn’t teach to the test, the professors who instilled the deepest learning in their students came out looking the worst in terms of student evaluations and initial exam performance. To me, these results were staggering, and I don’t say that lightly.

Bottom line? Student evaluations are of questionable value.

Teachers spend a lot of effort and time on making sure their lectures are polished and clear. That’s probably a good thing, if it inspires students to pay attention, come to class, and stay motivated. But it’s also important to keep the goal–learning–in sight. In fact, some argue that students need to fail a lot more if they want to learn. —Psychology Today.