Teaching (and Dating) with Data Jennifer Morrison Department of Education Newberry College Faculty Lecture Series 2010-11 February 8, 2011 Thank you | Introduce self | Text/Twitter Today’s talk to applies to teachers in public school system and to teachers here at Newberry College. Data and assessment are big terms these days in education (and in all fields) – the words often elicit fear and trepidation. In my mind, data are simple – they’re just bits of information we use to make decisions. My talk is going to be a little different. I’m going to start today’s lecture by telling a story, not about teaching, but about dating. My friend, Cathy, lost her husband about 3 years ago. It was hard but about a year ago Cathy decided she no longer wanted to be alone. The thing was – she hadn’t dated for 40 years. But she is a smart woman, and highly motivated – fully capable to coming up with effective dating strategies.

Unfortunately, the Love Connection had gone off the air in the 1980s (Pat Bullard was the host).

So she agreed to some blind dates, which did not work out, in part because she was asking friends like me to set her up. My perfect man sips a beer now and again and doesn’t know the difference between a linebacker and a tight end, while Cathy is a die-hard college ball follower. My standards are not her standards. So, she made a list and she went looking herself, but where? Picture: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stumbleine/1118261640/

Bars … the library … church … (when desperate) in Vegas There just weren’t all that many right places to look. What’s left? Bar - http://americanpublichousereview.com/2009.05/wharf_rat_fells_point_baltimore_md/ Library - http://www.newberry.edu/academics/wessels-library.aspx Las Vegas - http://fabandfru.com/2009/11/fab-fru-las-vegas/

Internet dating. Cathy joined e-Harmony and set up her profile. She had tons of dates in no time. On a date, she’d go to dinner and the man would tell her everything fabulous about himself. She’d tell him everything fabulous about herself, and that would be that. She didn’t feel like she really knew the men. So, Cathy got smart. She needed to see them in action, see how they interacted with other people, to really get to know them. Picture: http://www.weddingbee.com/2009/12/21/internet-dating-during-wedding-planning/

So she made a list of date settings where she could see her potential mates in real life: a game of golf, a museum, a football game, etc. No dinners and no movies. And that strategy has worked out very well. Picture: http://www.warriormindcoach.com/blog/2010/10/15/mental-strength-equipment-checklist/

What does this have to do with teachers and data?

As teachers, we need to know that we are making a teaching-learning connection with our students. Data re the information we get that show whether we are or are not making that connection.

Is there a window in the restroom? Sometimes, it just appears. All the sudden – at a meeting or in one’s email inbox – we get data, unexpected, unasked-for. It’s a blind date. It’s there across the table and we’re expected to do something with it or about it. We don’t like it. It doesn’t make sense. During most of the date we’re looking around for escape routes. Picture: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stumbleine/1118261640/

Sometimes we know there’s data out there Sometimes we know there’s data out there. We kind of know what we’re looking for, just not where to get it, so we.. Ask our friends Do some research Pray Give up and take a vacation. Bar - http://americanpublichousereview.com/2009.05/wharf_rat_fells_point_baltimore_md/ Library - http://www.newberry.edu/academics/wessels-library.aspx Las Vegas - http://fabandfru.com/2009/11/fab-fru-las-vegas/

Sometimes we ask students whether that connection is happening. Sometimes they tell us what we want to hear. Sometimes they don’t. Sometimes it’s not relevant. Sometimes we don’t believe them. Picture: http://www.weddingbee.com/2009/12/21/internet-dating-during-wedding-planning/

To really know we have assess and gather the data that will truly allow us to make good choices. Getting the data we need allows us to make that teaching-learning connection over and over and not by accident. Data also help us in other ways. Picture: http://www.warriormindcoach.com/blog/2010/10/15/mental-strength-equipment-checklist/ Assessment

Really? Data can help us avoid assumptions and ruts. I work with teachers and administrators all over the world and I hear the same things over and over. Students LOVE this activity – Really? How do you know? I’ve said it over and over. My students are really getting it – Really? How do you know? That kid…he’s just lazy – Really? How do you know? Picture: http://lionheart-designs.com/yeOldeCountyFaire/Barware/Drink%20Coasters.shtml

Data can help us focus on the needs of our students Data can help us focus on the needs of our students. And we have to focus on the neds of students. These days our jobs are about learning, not about teaching. And students have changed. Survey of select multitasking activities of US college students in the past month while watching TV (May 2007, n=1200, Source = Youth Trends “The Lifestyle Report: Spring 2007”) Talking on the phone – 62% Instant messaging online – 41% Text messaging – 39% Surfing the Web – 34% Doing schoolwork – 27% Researching schoolwork online – 18% Playing a game on a mobile device – 7% 1950s student - http://www2.uwrf.edu/arc/uwrfphotos.php Dudes - http://www.frederick.edu/student_services/campus_helpdesk_ss.aspx

Data allow us to own our successes. Data allow us to own our successes…and understand our failures. Picture: http://globaltrendtraders.com/trading-plan/whats-a-trading-success-profile/

The pursuit of meaningful data can keep us excited intellectually. Not like this guy

Data can connect us and help us move together successfully. Picture: http://www.icomnorthamerica.com/ Which bus is ours?

Caveats Data don’t just come from tests. Not just any data will do. Teachers are not cows. There is no guarantee of success. Picture: http://gluttonize.wordpress.com/2009/11/25/farm-sanctuary/

Thank you jennifer.morrison @newberry.edu (803) 351-5211 202 McClurg