I will walk away from this class with three major lessons in mind. First, I learned how to dig deeper than surface level to identify strengths and weaknesses in teaching and learning. This partly means looking at disaggregated data on the major tests like CRCT to identify achievement gaps within groups and within various skill sets. It also means using a wide variety of data to illustrate student achievement; data from the CRCT should only be one part of the puzzle. Second, I learned how to use data to identify a student-learning problem that is within the control of the school, and not to simply blame outside factors such as family background or transiency. Finally, I learned how to actually use that data to collaboratively design, implement, and monitor an action plan that will drive improvement, rather than just think about where to improve instruction on an individual surface level.
I would say that the Data Inventory field experience was extremely valuable in applying this new knowledge of data analysis to my own school situation. Often, my school only looks at the results of statewide tests such as the CRCT to gauge student achievement. The Data Inventory helped me realize just how many different sources of data exist to fill in the holes left by the CRCT data and complete the picture of student achievement. I solicited the help of my school's administration in order to identify these various sources of data, and even they were surprised at the amount of data sources we have when they were all written down in one place. The Data Inventory also afforded an opportunity to not only look at how we are using that data now, but how we can make even better use of that data in the future. This was very enlightening for me and for my administration as well.
Before next year I plan to bring these ideas back to my administration to suggest using this process throughout the next school year to see if we can close achievement gaps and identify and act upon a student learning problem in a new way. I will describe the major lessons I've learned and how to apply them to our own school situation. I may run into a problem of simply getting the administration and/or other teachers to hear what I have to say, since I have never before participated on a formal data team. I may also have a problem with buy-in, since teachers may see this as yet another initiative that will add onto their plates. Luckily I have already created an Elevator Speech that will help me in pitching this alternative way of looking at data.
I would say that the Data Inventory field experience was extremely valuable in applying this new knowledge of data analysis to my own school situation. Often, my school only looks at the results of statewide tests such as the CRCT to gauge student achievement. The Data Inventory helped me realize just how many different sources of data exist to fill in the holes left by the CRCT data and complete the picture of student achievement. I solicited the help of my school's administration in order to identify these various sources of data, and even they were surprised at the amount of data sources we have when they were all written down in one place. The Data Inventory also afforded an opportunity to not only look at how we are using that data now, but how we can make even better use of that data in the future. This was very enlightening for me and for my administration as well.
Before next year I plan to bring these ideas back to my administration to suggest using this process throughout the next school year to see if we can close achievement gaps and identify and act upon a student learning problem in a new way. I will describe the major lessons I've learned and how to apply them to our own school situation. I may run into a problem of simply getting the administration and/or other teachers to hear what I have to say, since I have never before participated on a formal data team. I may also have a problem with buy-in, since teachers may see this as yet another initiative that will add onto their plates. Luckily I have already created an Elevator Speech that will help me in pitching this alternative way of looking at data.
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