Accountability For Learning Results Is Everywhere--But Still Resisted

Over the last few weeks I have read a variety of articles about accountability for learning outcomes that really started me thinking deeply about the subject. I have a few thoughts I want to share.


First, was an article that hit close to home about universities creating scorecards to measure the return on investment for a professor's salary. With most states under severe budget pressure, the question being asked is "what are we getting for the money we pay professors." Different universities are trying different systems but they are all trying to answer that question.


Second, I continue to see article after article about accountability for the U.S. K-12 school systems. Thanks to federal laws and regulations, most states have some type of standard exams students must take to be promoted and to graduate. In my state (Louisiana) they are developing a system to track test performance to the teacher level and ultimately to the educational institution where the teachers are educated.


And of course there is the organizational training world where return on investment has been the mantra of many consultants for several decades. Yet, our surveys show that we have made little progress in getting the profession to embrace any type of evaluation beyond testing.


Doesn't anybody see the big picture here? The bottom line (IMHO) is that society is telling us that the "learning enterprise"--no matter what level or form it takes--MUST be accountable for producing results that matter. The paradox is that most people within the learning enterprise fight against accountability systems as hard as they can. The message is usually some form of "learning can't be measured and evaluated" or some other lofty principle that essentially says "we shouldn't have to be accountable."


Folks, I think that train has left the station. The question is no longer IF the learning enterprise will be held accountable, just how long before it happens. Learning is no longer regarded as so sacred in our society or our organizations to escape being held accountable.


So you have a choice to make. You can get on board the train and help shape the accountability systems to be the best they can be--even if imperfect. Or, you can resist it like the K-12 systems did and have it imposed upon you like a freight train running you over.


I suggest that you be a leader and make accountability work for your learning initiatives. Its a whole lot more fun to be the engine of the train than the caboose!!