rate a teacher - Page 3

Eve · 07-24-2008, 01:58 PM

We have a directory?

ratings, bad idea. Far too easy for people to get their buddies to join in and up their reputation, too easy for politics to overspill on the forum.

jenc · 07-24-2008, 09:12 PM

I was thinking more that Salome, or a moderator could email a request to update, perhaps on an annual basis

Salome · 07-24-2008, 09:29 PM

We do ask for updates, sometimes it occurs once a year, but often it's twice. When we are doing a rebuild etc.

Marya · 07-24-2008, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eve

We have a directory?

Good question, how does one find the directory?

Marya

Salome · 07-25-2008, 02:03 AM

Back in the day, the entire OrientalDancer.net portal was included in the forum navigation... but we changed it... Now you can find links to our other sites at the very bottom of every forum page. "Belly Dance Classes" for the directory.

Shahravar · 07-25-2008, 04:12 PM

I don't know if I consider most(not all) dance students capable of having an educated opinion on the subject. How many instructors had they taken from. How well do they(the student) know the course material or even the breakdown of muscle groups, warm ups and cool downs, how much have they researched the cultural topics relevant..Hmm?

da Sage · 07-25-2008, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shahravar

I don't know if I consider most(not all) dance students capable of having an educated opinion on the subject. How many instructors had they taken from. How well do they(the student) know the course material or even the breakdown of muscle groups, warm ups and cool downs, how much have they researched the cultural topics relevant..Hmm?

Yep...if I see another newbie dancer whining about terminology again, it'll be too soon...

My new teacher doesn't know the right word for this move! My old teacher didn't know the right word for this move! She must be a bad teacher!

Wah wah blame. Would they expect a ballet teacher to know so much about the history of the dance, or to translate songs in French? To get all the "proper" credentials and knowledge base a "good" teacher needs is equivalent to a bachelors and a masters in bellydance (if not a doctorate or post-doc).

I'm all for seeking out experienced teachers. But I don't think bellydance is rocket science, either - it's not like the stage will explode if a teacher's knowledge base is not all-encompassing.

Aziyade · 07-25-2008, 06:50 PM

Ratings, no. I'm with deSage on pretty much everything she said.

I've been at workshops with Hadia where some people thought she was just the best teacher ever and others said she sucked.

I've been at workshops with Morocco where some people thought she was just the best teacher ever and others said she sucked.

I've been at workshops with Suhaila where some people thought she was just the best teacher ever and others said she sucked.

I've been at workshops with Shareen el Safy where some people thought she was just the best teacher ever and others said she sucked.

Sorry -- but new students don't know enough to know what they don't know. My classes are the "hard" classes in our group because I try to challenge people's abilities. Have I lost students that way? Yes. But that's who I am as a teacher. My partner does not give individual correction in her classes, and the classes go fairly slowly. Has she also lost students because of it? Yes. But you can't please everybody, and when you TRY THAT you please nobody.

For the first 6-8 months I HATED the ballet director that took over our company in 1989. HATED him!!! But two years later I grew to realize that he was the BEST teacher I probably ever had in my life.

PLUS -- too many students gripe that "teacher never told me I had to do this" when I HEARD the teacher say that, but the student was too busy talking to her friend to listen. No to ratings.

nightdancer · 07-25-2008, 09:38 PM

I wonder if there is a way to put a positive spin on the concept. I know that we have a "Great teacher" thread in here somewhere. Perhaps if the forum just lists the instructor, and feedback can be left. So for example-

Jane A Bellydancer "Insert cool name"
1890 A Ave
Baltimore, MD 23456
(800) 867-5309
Website.com

Specializes in tribal, ghwazi and soapboxing on the history of it all.

Feedback on this instructor.
"Jane is a fabulous tribal instructor. She may not be a cabaret dancer, but can still instruct in the proper use (and not use) of bindi's. Energetic warmups, and its best to have some working knowledge of ATS before going. Also, usually does not show up on time."

Whoever is modding the section is going to be bright enough to figure out if a post is made just to be hateful, or if the person has a point, negative though it might be. Also, having a registration process to post teacher feedback will drastically cut down on the people posting just to be hateful.

Robynne

da Sage · 07-25-2008, 09:59 PM

I think online directories are exceedingly valuable for helping students and teachers find each other.

But as for the rating system? Dance happens in real space...not cyberspace. There is no substitute for actually getting to know people in the community, getting to know their likes and dislikes enough to evaluate the information they give you, and trying out a few classes yourself with the local teachers.

I see so many brand-new students (and would-be) students agitated about finding the "best" teacher, when they should just jump in and see what works for them.

07-25-2008, 04:12 PM	#26 (permalink)
Shahravar Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Slc,UT Posts: 14	hmm I don't know if I consider most(not all) dance students capable of having an educated opinion on the subject. How many instructors had they taken from. How well do they(the student) know the course material or even the breakdown of muscle groups, warm ups and cool downs, how much have they researched the cultural topics relevant..Hmm?

07-24-2008, 01:58 PM	#21 (permalink)
Eve Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: UK Posts: 161	We have a directory? ratings, bad idea. Far too easy for people to get their buddies to join in and up their reputation, too easy for politics to overspill on the forum.

07-24-2008, 09:12 PM	#22 (permalink)
jenc V.I.P. Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Colchester UK Posts: 1,527	I was thinking more that Salome, or a moderator could email a request to update, perhaps on an annual basis

07-24-2008, 09:29 PM	#23 (permalink)
Salome Administrator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Corvallis, Oregon, USA Posts: 2,186	We do ask for updates, sometimes it occurs once a year, but often it's twice. When we are doing a rebuild etc.

07-25-2008, 02:03 AM	#25 (permalink)
Salome Administrator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Corvallis, Oregon, USA Posts: 2,186	Back in the day, the entire OrientalDancer.net portal was included in the forum navigation... but we changed it... Now you can find links to our other sites at the very bottom of every forum page. "Belly Dance Classes" for the directory.

07-25-2008, 06:50 PM	#28 (permalink)
Aziyade V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Cornfields of Evansville Indiana. Posts: 1,049	Ratings, no. I'm with deSage on pretty much everything she said. I've been at workshops with Hadia where some people thought she was just the best teacher ever and others said she sucked. I've been at workshops with Morocco where some people thought she was just the best teacher ever and others said she sucked. I've been at workshops with Suhaila where some people thought she was just the best teacher ever and others said she sucked. I've been at workshops with Shareen el Safy where some people thought she was just the best teacher ever and others said she sucked. Sorry -- but new students don't know enough to know what they don't know. My classes are the "hard" classes in our group because I try to challenge people's abilities. Have I lost students that way? Yes. But that's who I am as a teacher. My partner does not give individual correction in her classes, and the classes go fairly slowly. Has she also lost students because of it? Yes. But you can't please everybody, and when you TRY THAT you please nobody. For the first 6-8 months I HATED the ballet director that took over our company in 1989. HATED him!!! But two years later I grew to realize that he was the BEST teacher I probably ever had in my life. PLUS -- too many students gripe that "teacher never told me I had to do this" when I HEARD the teacher say that, but the student was too busy talking to her friend to listen. No to ratings.

07-25-2008, 09:38 PM	#29 (permalink)
nightdancer Moderator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Below the Mason-Dixon Posts: 425	I wonder if there is a way to put a positive spin on the concept. I know that we have a "Great teacher" thread in here somewhere. Perhaps if the forum just lists the instructor, and feedback can be left. So for example- Jane A Bellydancer "Insert cool name" 1890 A Ave Baltimore, MD 23456 (800) 867-5309 Website.com Specializes in tribal, ghwazi and soapboxing on the history of it all. Feedback on this instructor. "Jane is a fabulous tribal instructor. She may not be a cabaret dancer, but can still instruct in the proper use (and not use) of bindi's. Energetic warmups, and its best to have some working knowledge of ATS before going. Also, usually does not show up on time." Whoever is modding the section is going to be bright enough to figure out if a post is made just to be hateful, or if the person has a point, negative though it might be. Also, having a registration process to post teacher feedback will drastically cut down on the people posting just to be hateful. Robynne

07-25-2008, 09:59 PM	#30 (permalink)
da Sage V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: USA Posts: 1,547	I think online directories are exceedingly valuable for helping students and teachers find each other. But as for the rating system? Dance happens in real space...not cyberspace. There is no substitute for actually getting to know people in the community, getting to know their likes and dislikes enough to evaluate the information they give you, and trying out a few classes yourself with the local teachers. I see so many brand-new students (and would-be) students agitated about finding the "best" teacher, when they should just jump in and see what works for them.