What is data?
Data is facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis. In other words, data is the raw information collected by any type of assessment. This data can be qualitative, using figures, characters and words to describe a topic. It can also be quanitative, using data on a measured on a numerical scale. Both types are valuable, when used properly.
Data beliefs
I believe that data should be used to, “plan instruction, keep track of learning on each achievement target, and provide descriptive feedback” (Stiggens, 2006). I will design my classroom to be a data-driven classroom, meaning that I will base my instructional practices around concrete evidence of student understanding. It will be important that students understand the importance of tracking success as I will be doing when collecting data. According to Stiggens, “The more involved with keeping track of achievement students are, the more in touch with their own progress they can be” (Stiggens, 2006). Since I want student involvement in my classroom I will have student keep track of their achievement in their student binders on a progress report worksheet. Data in my classroom will be used to understand the roots of student achievement and of classroom issues. The following represents the specifics of what I will and will not do as it pertains to data.
In my classroom, I will….
o Ticket out the Door
o White Board Activities
In my classroom, I will not…
In my classroom, I will….
- Use multiple measures of data in order to better understand outcomes in my classroom.
- Analyze data from every summative assessment taken in my classroom.
- Communicate relevant data findings to my students, parents and colleagues.
- Look for positive facts within data in order to create student confidence.
- Use data to analyze whole class patterns as well as individual student patterns.
- Use both quantitative and qualitative data to search for patterns among students.
- Continually collect, interpret and compare data from past to present to look for student growth.
- Gather data in every classroom every day through the use of formative students checks such as:
o Ticket out the Door
o White Board Activities
In my classroom, I will not…
- Use data as a tool to show student shortcomings and communicate them with stakeholders.
- Collect only one type of data as a measurement of student achievement.
- Focus data only on individual students instead of looking at the class as a whole.
- Focus data only on the class as a whole instead of looking at individual students.
- Use data solely to please my Administrator.
Involvement, Timeliness & Communication Plan
Just as assessment and grading should be included in a classroom community setting I believe that data should be as well. I will use data to communicate student growth to stakeholders and I will not be able to do this without a successful communication plan. It is important that stakeholders understand my reasons and processes for collecting data so that they can better interpret the findings. In order to implement the findings of the collected data I will need to have my district, students and parents on the same page. As data can serve the purposes of both teachers and students I want my students to be included in the data collection and interpretation process on a personal level.
My involvement in collecting, interpreting and using data will be…
o Emails
o Personal communication
o Newsletter home
o Classroom website
Student involvement in collecting, interpreting and using data will be …
Parent involvement in data will be …
Administrator and colleague involvement in data will be …
o Personal communication
My involvement in collecting, interpreting and using data will be…
- Establishing a clear data collecting method. For formal assessments this will be through the use of a data sheet in which I collect information on each student. For informal assessments this will be through notes that I write to myself about student learning.
- Organizing student data in a way that is understandable to me as the teacher.
- Making students and parents aware of relevant findings from data that I have collected and how I came to these conclusions.
- Keep a clear record of data in order to show student growth according to state standards.
- Use the data to impact student learning in a positive way.
- Use the data to create hypotheses and subsequent action plans.
- Communicate relevant data findings to stakeholders within one week after coming to these conclusions.
- Communicate relevant data findings through various means such as
o Emails
o Personal communication
o Newsletter home
o Classroom website
Student involvement in collecting, interpreting and using data will be …
- Analyze their performance on summative assessment using a Post-Test Worksheet.
- Track their own growth over the course of a unit and semester. Use the data as a tool to analyze their weaknesses.
- Create personal actions plans about how to better their learning.
- Ask relevant questions about my data collection and findings.
- Assist me in collecting data by answering questions honestly and by sharing their experiences and feelings truthfully.
- Implement the changes that I deem appropriate based on the collected data.
Parent involvement in data will be …
- Carefully look at the data findings that are presented to them on report cards and newsletters.
- Ask relevant questions pertaining to the data findings.
- Implement the procedures that I have deemed appropriate to further their students learning.
Administrator and colleague involvement in data will be …
- Leave communication channels open to inform about data collection procedures and findings.
o Personal communication
- Use gathered data together as a team to determine patterns and create school wide action plans to remediate.
- Use gathered data together to determine student growth and success and to recognize the student.