The use of data in schools has become an increasingly important consideration. However, use of data has also become problematic, with many teachers experiencing feelings of overwhelm with the myriad of data sources that are available combined with expectation to monitor student learning, engagement, and outcomes. While collecting and using data effectively certainly plays a key role in school improvement, school improvement is not only about the data. In fact, data is, or should be, simply a gateway to deeper understanding our students, our practice, our schools, and ourselves. What is more important is the questions we seek to answer, and the collaborative processes we use in seeking solutions to the problems posed.
To ensure that data is used effectively we must support educators to engage with different sources of data supports educators to feel less overwhelmed and are open to gaining deeper insight. Thus, we argue that educators must become coaches and evaluators who implement strategies that help both colleagues and themselves to draw on data to: guide teacher practice, support student learning, seek answers to key questions, and work together through collaborative practice. Reframing how we think about data in such ways has the potential to build morale, support teacher development, esteem, teacher agency, and collective teacher efficacy.
This program supports educators to view the role of data as more than standardized test scores, and instead, move to view data as a way to investigate questions about students, teaching practices, and learning in the school.
Program Outcomes:
Facilitators will engage participants in a discussion of what data in schools looks like, and how it helps (and hurts) school culture;
Participants will be invited to share their own experience and perspectives on how they use data to support staff and student growth;
Participants will be learn about different forms of data and understand how they can be used within schools to understand impact and improve student outcomes;
Participants will develop strategies that can improve their school culture and create impactful change by using (all kinds of) data more effectively.
Target Audience:
System leaders, policy makers, school leaders, teachers, parents…. anyone who wants to understand more about how to use data more effectively.