Final answer:
The current emphasis on testing, measuring, evaluating, and assessing student learning stems from the idea of rational efficiency in education, which aims to ensure specific learning outcomes are met. However, this approach has been met with criticism for focusing too much on standardized tests and failing to promote critical thinking and creativity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The current emphasis on testing, measuring, evaluating, and assessing student learning stems (ultimately) from the idea of rational efficiency in education.
This emphasis can be traced back to the funding tie-in of the No Child Left Behind Act, which led to the phenomenon of 'teaching to the test', where the curriculum focuses on preparing students for standardized tests at the expense of broader educational goals and concepts of learning.
Some critics argue that this approach only equips students to memorize and regurgitate facts, while proponents of student-centered learning believe that it is important to teach problem-solving abilities and learning skills.
The goal of rational efficiency is to ensure that students meet specific learning outcomes and demonstrate their knowledge through standardized assessments.
There have been debates surrounding the effectiveness of this approach, as some argue that it narrows the focus of education and fails to fully develop students' critical thinking and creativity.
However, testing and assessment continue to play a significant role in measuring academic achievement and holding schools accountable for student learning.