Topic Progress:

ESSENTIAL FUNCTION 1 IN PRACTICE

What Does Exemplary Implementation of Essential Function 1 – Gather Look Like?

Essential Function: Educators collaborate to decide what data to collect.

  • Establish a data team with members sharing a common interest (content, grade level, etc.).
  • Meet at regularly scheduled, predetermined times to collaborate on student data.
  • Define and use roles to improve meeting effectiveness and efficiency.
  • Use agendas that clearly outline team meeting goals with an emphasis on using data to inform instruction.
  • Use a system for sharing and storing team documents (i.e. agenda, minutes, etc.).
  • Hold team accountable for individual and team review of data.
  • Data collection process elements include
    • Collect student data in relation to learning targets.
    • Collect data describing instructional processes.
    • Organize data in preparation for review and analysis.

 Download the Data-Based Decision Making Practice Profile (https://www.moedu-sail.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/DBDM-Practice-Profile-2019-Final-1-7-19.docx).

What step can you take to start or improve collecting and charting the data you need right now?


Working Through Roadblocks

Review the common roadblocks below and/or add your own.  Select one roadblock and outline specific steps your team could implement to ensure the roadblock does not derail your team.

  • Lack of a regularly scheduled meeting times.
  • Team roles are not assigned.
  • Too much or not enough data.
  • Lack of time or motivation to dig into the data.

Next Steps

Assess your team’s/building’s current knowledge and fluency with Essential Function 1 – Gathering Data, then determine possible next steps including

  • Decide what format your team/building will utilize (electronic or hard copy).
  • Plan for training so all teachers know how to chart their student data.
  • Establish team roles and consider any professional learning needs.
  • Establish dates for submitting and for sharing collated data.
  • Identify specific ways your team will want/need data disaggregated.