Discourse About Ideas: Monitoring and Regulation in Face-to-Face and Computer-Mediated Environments*

A novel Web-based Accountability Model (WAM) for assessment and learning in a Teacher Education Program was implemented. The objective is to explain the rationale for the WAM model, how it was implemented as the web-based Education Accountability System (EAS), and the impacts on the organization and the individual. Standards were followed in the system design and implementation to facilitate interoperability. EAS consists of an electronic portfolio subsystem, an online performance assessment subsystem, and an accountability center subsystem. Each subsystem was developed based on work practices of the department that the department carefully elaborated before implementation. In a department of education annually graduating approximately 450 students and involving over 200 faculty and staff, the EAS was successfully established and used. The EAS improved candidate performance, program quality, and operations and is now being disseminated to other universities. However, successful usage required refinements to the model and modifications to the content of the system. Lessons learned could assist other institutions to implement a similar system.