Accountability for Educators

Accountability for Educators

Through educational history, various learning theories have been developed. How these theories relate to high-stakes standardized testing has a profound effect on schools in relation to accountability.

Traditional learning models are based on two underlying assumptions, namely, decomposition and decontextualization. Yin (as cited in Gipps, 1994) maintains that standardized testing is built upon this perspective. Training the mind, emphasizing subject matter, and saturating the learner with knowledge and information is viewed as a means for standardized test preparation (as cited in Ornstein, 1999).

Current learning theories, however, are based upon cognitive processes which indicate a strong connection between skills and the contexts in which they are used, according to Yin. Social-constructivist view of learning, differentiated learning, motivation theory, metacognitive strategy of learning and the theory of multiple intelligences have, Yin st...