This resource has been designed as a step-by-step tool for educators interested in ways to use data to inform their instructional practice. This tool can be used by individuals or teams to guide the identification of a problem statement, selection of data sources, data analysis, action-planning, and adjustments to practice.
Depending on your experience working with data, you may choose one step to focus on or follow the full process from beginning to end. Each step in the process includes a series of questions to consider and guidance on how to facilitate meaningful and focused conversations with colleagues about data
There is no right kind of data to use for this process; however, we recommend starting with data that exists within your sphere of influence. For example, looking at school-wide data may provide some interesting insights about the context in which you are teaching, but may be difficult to influence at the classroom level. Instead, prioritizing data related to what’s happening in your own classroom (e.g., your own students’ assessment scores or classroom observations) can yield more meaningful and actionable insights that can be used to inform instructional adjustments.
The process is as follows (click section to scroll there):