Learner-Centered Innovation: Spark Curiosity, Ignite Passion, and Unleash Genius

by Katie Martin

I have worked in schools where support programs or “response to intervention” programs, designed with the very best of intentions, pull kids out of class to provide extra time to ensure that students have the skills to be successful. The problem is that success was defined by the test scores, and, in some cases, this focus resulted in limiting (or eliminating) authentic learning experiences to make room for repeated exposure and practice on drill-and-kill test-prep questions. The primary goal wasn’t learning, rather it was to ensure students were well versed in the test genre and able to select the appropriate answers. In my experience, this test-centric approach rarely leads to significant gains in test scores, nor does it increase motivation for learning (or test taking) by students or their teachers.