In this class I have learned to effectively collect, analyze, and use data to improve schools, teacher development and student learning. Using data to make improvements in schools is a multi-step process. While at times it is an unnerving undertaking but when completed using the steps in the Data Wise or The Data Coach’s Guide seems manageable and extremely effective.
My initial gut reaction to this class was one of dread and intimidation, but once again Kennesaw State Instructors have taken a frightful course and made it meaningful, easy to learn, and applicable to my field. The learning created was authentic and student directed. Dr. Wright was a facilitator that pointed me in the right direction when I asked. I am proud of what I have learned and I further see other areas of application for the learning I made in this class. I recently sat in a department head meeting at Marietta High School in which we spoke about last year’s school wide initiatives and I asked questions about data collection and analysis to document the success of each of these initiatives, before this course I was not aware that our school used data for anything other than reviewing state tests.
Currently at MHS, our Principal has begun to place seasoned teachers in positions of data team leaders to direct specific professional learning communities in the upcoming year. I hope to be able to sit in on these PLCs and listen and try to help. I feel that after completing this course I can offer my skills for collecting data, creating charts, putting together as presentation that tells a story, and following steps to create an Action Plan. I believe I can model and facilitate the steps in both collaborative inquiry and the using data process. I know collaboratively I can affect change in my school using these methods with teachers that are better versed in best practices and implementation strategies to impact changed learning in their courses.
I look forward to the challenges of data analysis and school improvement that lay ahead of me. I can’t wait to introduce the two models from this course to my peers and to help others use the various steps in these models to make school improvements.
My initial gut reaction to this class was one of dread and intimidation, but once again Kennesaw State Instructors have taken a frightful course and made it meaningful, easy to learn, and applicable to my field. The learning created was authentic and student directed. Dr. Wright was a facilitator that pointed me in the right direction when I asked. I am proud of what I have learned and I further see other areas of application for the learning I made in this class. I recently sat in a department head meeting at Marietta High School in which we spoke about last year’s school wide initiatives and I asked questions about data collection and analysis to document the success of each of these initiatives, before this course I was not aware that our school used data for anything other than reviewing state tests.
Currently at MHS, our Principal has begun to place seasoned teachers in positions of data team leaders to direct specific professional learning communities in the upcoming year. I hope to be able to sit in on these PLCs and listen and try to help. I feel that after completing this course I can offer my skills for collecting data, creating charts, putting together as presentation that tells a story, and following steps to create an Action Plan. I believe I can model and facilitate the steps in both collaborative inquiry and the using data process. I know collaboratively I can affect change in my school using these methods with teachers that are better versed in best practices and implementation strategies to impact changed learning in their courses.
I look forward to the challenges of data analysis and school improvement that lay ahead of me. I can’t wait to introduce the two models from this course to my peers and to help others use the various steps in these models to make school improvements.