The issue that Accountability is facing in education relates directly to politics. For example, in an article titled, "Education Reform and School Accountability", the two authors discuss critical issues within accountability and what is to be done. They stated,
"While our work focuses on the critical issues of school accountability both nationally and in the states, the impetus for our work arises from two sources. First our concern is for those most harshly affected by the arbitrary sanctions and climate of current school reform: The educators and the children they work so passionately to educate. Educators are deskilled and held to arbitrary outcomes that have little or nothing to do with what happens in schools. They are denied professional decision latitude in working with their pupils as they know they can best serve them. Schoolchildren are, likewise, visible victims of sorting by socio economic status (SES) and being classified arbitrarily by high stakes tests that fail to meet recognized, scientific standards of test validity and that violate all learned society guidelines for the appropriate use of such standardized tests."
These problems mentioned are greatly impacting children and teachers alike in negative aspects, and ultimately holding them back from getting to use their strengths in teaching and learning. These are real concerns, that have a potential to ruin education in schools as a whole. Teachers are being held accountable to work that has little relevance in the schools, as well as students being hindered from showing off their true, critical thinking abilities.
Another issue that is posed in regards to Accountability in education is in the article titled, "Critical Issue: Using Technology to Improve Student Achievement." Business and education leaders are seeing that there is an emphasis being given to current assessments and that there is too much focus on measuring a students' ability to pull out memorized facts, rather than using beneficial learning techniques such as problem solving. However, some believe that teaching problem solving skills are only an illusion of a student gaining knowledge. On the other hand it is my personal opinion that teaching problem solving skills should be a priority because it both teaches the students how to work well in the classroom and solve problems in school by using critical thinking skills. Also, if a student gains the knowledge in problem solving then they can use that to their advantage in real life scenarios. Overall, I believe that problem solving is critical to teach in the classroom and is much more affective than simply spilling out information and asking the kids to use it again, metaphorically speaking.
 | |
| An example of boys problem solving a maze |
In continuing to go further in depth in this last article mentioned, they also state that $66 billion was invested in school technology within the past decade. This made legislators uneasy because they were unsure of where all of these funds for the school were going to and being spent. They decided to ask the school that was in control of this amount to give evidence of the expenses and how it is affecting the technology in schools in some way. The public also wanted an account and efficacy check on their high-fund investments. Whether the funds have been used appropriately or not, the school will be held accountable for its actions and have to show proof of spending.
Another more direct problem to teachers that accountability of technology brings into education, is that teachers are concerned about funding the technology. In the article, "Technology and Student Achievement -The Indelible Link", it discusses concerns that teachers are struggling with. For example, all of the software needed to successfully integrate computers, Smartboards, etc with updates and useful programs is expensive and takes money that the school district cannot necessarily provide or give. A teacher might ask, "How am I supposed to integrate technology and improve my student's learning if I can't pay for what they need? Another concern mentioned in the article is the need for teacher's to be trained in the technology they are using to teach. If they themselves are not informed, then how will a student benefit and grow in their own learning?
These are all very integral issues that are rightly questioned, but also need to be solved so that the integration of technology will have a smooth transition into the classroom.
Read on....
