Survey Said! Using surveys and data to move your counseling program forward.

Topics for this session: Why use data? Deciding what data should be collected Tools available for collecting and analyzing data Strategies for applying survey results and data to your practice Example Surveys

Action steps to leave with…. Data I would like to collect: How will I collect this data? How will this data help kids? To Whom will I present this data?

Who became a school counselor so you could collect and analyze data?

Why is data important? Helps with accountability Politically “popular” Helps counselors advocate for their program Part of the ASCA National model Helps counselors manage ridiculous workloads

Why is data important? But the most important reason…. It’s good for kids.

What data should I collect? Attendance Discipline Assessment data Grades Counselor Interactions Student meetings Parent/family meetings Phone calls/ s Student Needs Family Needs Staff Needs Principal Needs

Where do I get this data? DataData Source AttendanceStudent Information System DisciplineStudent Information System/Administrators Assessment DataStudent Information System GradesStudent Information System Counselor InteractionsYou! (notes, , phone log) Student NeedsSurveys Family NeedsSurveys Staff/Principal NeedsSurveys Outcome DataSurveys/Student Information Systems

Types of Surveys Paper and Pencil Online

Paper and Pencil AdvantagesChallenges Easy to makeMust tabulate all data by hand Accessible to all (no computers needed) Online AdvantagesChallenges Data tabulation/analysis done for you. Must have “survey” account Easy to make more complex surveys Need access to computers

Example Paper Surveys

Online Surveys Make your own on your own website. Use online web program.

Online options Survey Monkey Zoomerang Google Docs

Should I create an account? Survey Monkey, Google and Zoomerang often free services Free services are limited in scope Survey Monkey Example: FreePaid ($200) Unlimited Surveys 10 question limitNo limit 100 response limitNo limit View results onlineView Results online Export results

Create a survey… Survey Monkey Example Own Website Examples

Analyzing the data Survey Monkey On free accounts results are limited Paper/Pencil Hand tabulate Use Excel (EzAnalyze)

Analyzing the data

Analyzing Data Don’t get too complicated. Remember, you are not publishing a peer-reviewed article. For example:

Applying the data to practice What do I do with my data? Keep it to yourself Share with your department Share with your principal Share with students Share with parents Share with teachers Share with school board Share with community

Applying data to practice 50% of college bound students did not fill out the FAFSA last year. 50% of students that did the FAFSA got assistance from our career specialist 70% of students that did the FAFSA were in honors English 20% of students that did the FAFSA had F/R lunch Russian and Ukrainian were significantly underrepresented.

Applying Data to Practice What were our action steps? Individual Ask seniors every time we see them. Department Re-focus financial aid night and scholarship nights School Added four lessons to Nav101 curriculum

Action steps to leave with…. Data I would like to collect: How will I collect this data? How will this data help kids? To whom will I present this data?

Toby Marston