Chapter 2: Weighing the Risks with the Rewards: Implementing Student-Centered Pedagogy Within High Stakes Testing

There is a growing research base to support teacher use of student-centered learning strategies. However, this research comes at a time when high-stakes testing is the focus of much of the work in schools in the United States. This chapter examines the risks teachers take when implementing student-centered pedagogy within these contexts. Based on previous and current research we describe a framework for understanding these risks, emphasizing the challenges teachers face. Additionally, we examine how each of these factors affects teachers, offering examples from teachers and the literature where appropriate. Finally, recommendations for the successful implementation and reduction in teacher stress are presented.