Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons^™

Accountable To Whom? Teacher Reflections On The Relationship Between Creativity And Standardized Testing In Ontario., Catharine Dishke Hondzel

Catharine Dishke Hondzel

This paper describes teachers’ perceptions of the relationship between standardized testing and creativity. Using an interview guide format, eight teachers were asked to consider their perspectives on, and practices related to fostering creative behaviours in children, with regard to their own creative teaching methods in light of accountability legislation. The responses teachers provided indicated that standardized testing process often impacted their teaching by taking time away from learning material they considered to be more valuable. Teachers in this study also indicated a sense of incongruity, in that they believed creativity could not exist in a classroom focused on improving standardized …