I am interested if others have created courses that are specific to looking at school or school district data. We are embarking on this task, and thought it would be nice to see if there are other examples out there that we can learn from.
I don't know of an example on this particular topic, but if you could be more specific as to the type of information that you'd like to include in your course I would be happy to help you think of ways you could do that effectively. :)
As always, the central question is "what do you want them to be able to DO with the data?"
I mention this because it's easy to get caught up in education metrics today and lose sight of how to actually make them actionable (if that's your goal)..... Example: So what if only 60% of 5th graders were on grade level by end of year??? Maybe that class actually had the HIGHEST growth because only 25% were on grade level at the beginning year! Is there anything that you want really want done in this example; other than give the teacher a huge pat on the back even though they came in at 60%? You get the idea.
If however your goal is to get the audience to analyze the data (rather than creating specific action plans), then you might structure the training in a way that guides them in how to synthesize what's in front of them into meaningful relationships. The invite them to draw conclusions; either free form, or from a lost of suggested causes/results in interpretation of data points.
So once again.... if you are designing "training", rather than a mere presentation of the data, you need to answer the central question of what you want the audience to be able to do with the knowledge gained. That should drive your course design.
Bob totally agree. This is geared toward a basic understanding of data for schools. And, you are right in the variables associated with each scenario. Ideally it would be nice to have the educators look at their own data and use the course to learn how best to interpret it. Indeed, there can be a lot of gray area and I think it goes back to your original question of what we want them to do with the data. Ultimately it is to inform instruction, as well as understand the bigger picture of what the data might mean.
Allison I am hoping to share the tools we use to gather data. In some cases it might be a report card or a specific app.
So with that in mind.... PLEASE know that I mean no offense to teachers; there are a few in my immediate family. :) That being said, the broad brushstroke profile of public educators today does not usually paint them as devout number crunchers/data mavens that love to analyze reams of statistics. So here are some thoughts...
1) Teach them what each statistic means in a stand-alone way. Come up with a simple standard "format" for explaining each stat. For example.... Measures X, Over Y time period, Across Z group etc. The specifics will vary, but create that standard template for each stat so it's easy to grasp.
2) Work with a SME to come up with several of the most valuable relationships/inter-dependencies. For example.... Analysis #3 = 2015 Year End test score vs 2015 Reading Fluency. Your data SME and/or Administration will want to weigh in here. But I would really consider providing this sort of guidance for several key relationships rather than risk having them tie 3rd grade Math scores to 7th grade PE grades! :)
3) Then.... (after 1 and 2) have them analyze their own data (primarily with the key relationships/dependencies you detailed), draw some conclusions, and offer possible priorities to act upon for the coming 2-3 years. This piece may be best done in Data Teams. But again, you will likely need Admin buy in for this if they are going to be setting long term priorities.
So there's my two cents for whatever it's worth from a non-educator training guy. Hope it helps!
Thanks Bob I appreciate the insight! As we gather a method of putting this together I will post something back on here. May be a couple of months as we are in the brainstorming phase. I agree there needs to be buy in.
6 Replies
Hi Daniel,
I don't know of an example on this particular topic, but if you could be more specific as to the type of information that you'd like to include in your course I would be happy to help you think of ways you could do that effectively. :)
Hi Daniel,
As always, the central question is "what do you want them to be able to DO with the data?"
I mention this because it's easy to get caught up in education metrics today and lose sight of how to actually make them actionable (if that's your goal)..... Example: So what if only 60% of 5th graders were on grade level by end of year??? Maybe that class actually had the HIGHEST growth because only 25% were on grade level at the beginning year! Is there anything that you want really want done in this example; other than give the teacher a huge pat on the back even though they came in at 60%? You get the idea.
If however your goal is to get the audience to analyze the data (rather than creating specific action plans), then you might structure the training in a way that guides them in how to synthesize what's in front of them into meaningful relationships. The invite them to draw conclusions; either free form, or from a lost of suggested causes/results in interpretation of data points.
So once again.... if you are designing "training", rather than a mere presentation of the data, you need to answer the central question of what you want the audience to be able to do with the knowledge gained. That should drive your course design.
Hope that makes sense and good luck!
Bob totally agree. This is geared toward a basic understanding of data for schools. And, you are right in the variables associated with each scenario. Ideally it would be nice to have the educators look at their own data and use the course to learn how best to interpret it. Indeed, there can be a lot of gray area and I think it goes back to your original question of what we want them to do with the data. Ultimately it is to inform instruction, as well as understand the bigger picture of what the data might mean.
Allison I am hoping to share the tools we use to gather data. In some cases it might be a report card or a specific app.
Thanks for the help.
Dan
So with that in mind.... PLEASE know that I mean no offense to teachers; there are a few in my immediate family. :) That being said, the broad brushstroke profile of public educators today does not usually paint them as devout number crunchers/data mavens that love to analyze reams of statistics. So here are some thoughts...
1) Teach them what each statistic means in a stand-alone way. Come up with a simple standard "format" for explaining each stat. For example.... Measures X, Over Y time period, Across Z group etc. The specifics will vary, but create that standard template for each stat so it's easy to grasp.
2) Work with a SME to come up with several of the most valuable relationships/inter-dependencies. For example.... Analysis #3 = 2015 Year End test score vs 2015 Reading Fluency. Your data SME and/or Administration will want to weigh in here. But I would really consider providing this sort of guidance for several key relationships rather than risk having them tie 3rd grade Math scores to 7th grade PE grades! :)
3) Then.... (after 1 and 2) have them analyze their own data (primarily with the key relationships/dependencies you detailed), draw some conclusions, and offer possible priorities to act upon for the coming 2-3 years. This piece may be best done in Data Teams. But again, you will likely need Admin buy in for this if they are going to be setting long term priorities.
So there's my two cents for whatever it's worth from a non-educator training guy. Hope it helps!
Thanks Bob I appreciate the insight! As we gather a method of putting this together I will post something back on here. May be a couple of months as we are in the brainstorming phase. I agree there needs to be buy in.
Excellent advice, Bob!
Definitely let us know how it turns out, Daniel.
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