A LOOK AT MOTIVATION AND HIGH-STAKES TESTING IN SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES

Abstract

Current research about the motivation used in classrooms indicates that our classroom culture has shifted away from teaching practices. Students require intrinsic and extrinsic motivation to be successful and to become lifelong learners. High-stakes testing combined with standards based curriculum, which is shifting to Common Core, has created a fear among teachers. Because of this, some teachers abandon best teaching practices in order to make students successful on tests instead of focusing on student learning. In order to create lifelong learners, teachers need to shift the focus off of testing and back onto learning itself. Teachers also need to know their students abilities and motivations and teach to those instead of a testing curriculum.