Topic Progress:

 ESSENTIAL FUNCTION 2 IN PRACTICE

Dig Into the Data

Data helps educators identify trends and patterns, student strengths, and areas for further instruction.  The goal of data analysis is to identify a common problem or problems the team wants to address through instructional change.  GAINS promotes a process for examining all student work (regardless of proficiency level) for common understandings and misconceptions. The issues/problems/misconceptions identified should be those that when addressed through instruction advance student learning toward critical learning goals.

Data Reflections

Using your data and the T-Chart you created previously, complete the steps below.

  1. Identify common issues/problems/misconceptions and prioritize the list from most important to least important.
  2. Identify how each issue/problem/misconception is linked to a specific learning goal, target, or standard.
  3. Select what you consider to be the most important issue/problem/misconception and describe your rationale.
  4. List 3 or more possible instructional reasons that might prevent students from reaching the learning goal.

Review the Sample Data Analysis Form (https://www.moedu-sail.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/DBDM-Workbook_Sample_Data_Analysis_Form.pdf).

How might this form help your team?

How might you want to customize this form to better fit the needs of your team?

What Does Exemplary Implementation of Essential Function 2 Analyze Data Look Like?

Essential Function:  Educators develop a process for examining and interpreting data.

  • Use purposeful data analysis system to guide effective data analysis.
  • Consistently use protocol for data analysis.
  • Identify a common problem that is related to a learning goal.
  • Reflect on how instruction has previously impacted the common problem.
  • Predict a link to teacher practice.
  • Organize and track the data-informed decisions made by the team in order to be available for future problem-solving discussions.

 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).

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.

  • Meetings lose focus and too much time is spent off-topic.
  • Lack of a data analysis protocol.
  • Mismatch between learning targets and data.
  • Analysis viewed personally rather than objectively.
  • Focus is on the students’ weaknesses, rather than effective teaching practices.
  • Data not clearly defined.

What steps can you take to start or improve analyzing data right now? Reflect on your team’s/building’s current knowledge and implementation of this process then determine possible next steps.