Data Analysis Chapter 11..powerful professional development tool that can lead to school improvement.

Rationale Critical to understanding how organization is doing Leads to knowing what to do to improve Critical for all staff to understand data and know what they must do for the system to improve

Why it works: Data is real Most teachers only see their portion Focus is on improving learning for all Focus also on improving quality of work done at all levels Professional development is collaborative Work done is in context of professional learning community Analyzing data is shown to rely on staffs expertise, experience and professional knowledge Requires reflection and inquiry

Types of data categories 1.Demographics 2.Perceptions 3.School processes 4.Student learning

1. Demographic Data Student, teacher and school data How we align staff to work with different groups Perspective for understanding all other data on specific groups (student learning by gender or ethnicity).

2. Perceptions Data What others think about the learning environment –Parents –Teachers –Community –Students Students can say what motivates them to learn Staff can say what is possible within the school

3. School process data How the school does its business –Instructional strategies –Classroom practices –Assessment strategies –Curriculum and programs Same process usually same results so changing processes give option of changing results

4. Student learning data Norm-referenced tests Criterion-referenced tests Standards assessments Teacher given grades Authentic assessments

How to do? Someone identifies a NEED for data collection Suggestion of using a HYPOTHETICAL school as an example first and go through the process A team CREATES a plan for collecting and analyzing the data using resources (like this book) Determine how the data categories RELATE to each other in the big picture Determine what ABSOLUTELY has to be in the school improvement plan

Summary 1.Data gathering is first step 2.Analysis of data and a plan for implementing the results is next 3.Monitor changes constantly

PD in this role? Professional development that focuses on data analysis gives staff members a leadership role in gathering and analyzing data and gets them to look collaboratively at critical information for the whole school.