Assessing Data

The first stage for the Instructional Data Team is to gather valuable data.  Once that data has been gathered, the purpose is to do something effective with it.  This can vary depending on what kind of data is discovered, and what it means to that particular school or district.  But there are some general goals for this data:

1. Pinpoint where there has been success in the district or the school
2. Determine which decisons or actions by leaders is responsible for the successful performance
3. Pinpoint where the district or school may make greatest change and improvements
4. Analyze the data to detrmine where curriculum materials, instructional methods, or testing is leading to the data being seen
5. Pinpoint what in particular each school is doing that may be contributing to the data being seen

Just as it did with the initial data-gathering effort, after assessing the data, the Instructional Data Team is better prepared to fine-tune its goals and develop even better methods for continuing to track the data.  But now the tam can also start to answer what the actuall means.

At the data-assessment stage, an educational consultant can work with teams within a school or a district to understand what the data is telling you.  The consultant can also help refine the data-gathering methods and hone the general strategies of the instructional data team for greatest success.