standardized testing

theories of learning

Behaviorist/ Behaviourist	Cognitive/constructivist	Situated/socio-cultural
Environment for learning determining factor. Learning is conditioned response to external stimuli Rewards and punishments Progress measured through unseen timed tests – items from progressive levels in skill hierarchy. Performance interpreted correct or incorrect. Poor performance remedied by more practice in incorrect items, deconstructing and going back to basic skills	Learning requires active engagement of learners and determined by what goes on in learners’ heads. How people construct meaning and make sense of the world. Change in role of teacher – formative assessment emerges as important integral part of pedagogic practice. it is necessary to elicit students’ mental models (through dialogue, open-ended assignments, thinking aloud protocols & concept-mapping)  to scaffold them to apply concepts and strategies in novel situations.	Learning occurs in interaction between individual and social environment. Social relationships are necessary for and precede learning hence language development. Newer theories not well developed re assessment. Socio-cultural approaches imply that teacher needs to create environment to stimulate learners to think and act in authentic tasks beyond their current level of competence. Tasks need to be collaborative and students must be involved in the generation of problems and solutions. Teachers and students jointly solve problems and all develop skill and understanding.