Fear…

… of the DATA MONSTER!!!

Until this summer, the woman above was me!  I feared data.  The mere mention of the four letters sent chills down my educational spine.  Just like the woman above, when it was time data talks within professional learning communities, I became a shrinking violet.  Thanks to our July PD on DATA LITERACY, I am starting to understand the root of my fear and have a roadmap to conquering it.

First, the professional development showed me how one’s school culture can create an environment of fear around data.  For years, I had been groomed in an environment when the control of data was dictated TO teachers by administration.  Quarterly assessment data was color-coded in Red (below proficiency), yellow (at proficiency), and green (above proficiency), and placed on data walls for all to see and observe.  So much emphasis was placed on failure that it created a culture of “closed-door” teaching that bred competitiveness instead of collaboration.

This training allowed me to see how to shift from one who fears data to one that is empowered by it.  It has taught me that not only do I have to WELCOME Data and use it to continue to guide my daily teaching, but I must empower learners and stakeholders (parents, community leaders, etc.) how to interpret and use it to help assist learners in their educational journey.  The training has taught me that DATA “talks”- both formal and informal- should start day 1.  I have already begun acting on this during the new school year.  I used the first week to get to know my learners interest and various learning styles (Multiple Intelligence, Sternberg’s Triarchic Theory, Learning Styles, AND various Interest).  All of this information was compiled on a 5X8 index card that I will have laminated this week and add magnetic strips to the back of all.  This way, they can be displayed on the board for grouping.  Learners were excited that I was not only interested in finding their reading levels.  A few learners said “Thank You” to myself and co-teachers for “wanting to know them.”  This totally has changed the environment of the classroom, as we watch learners applauding classmates on strengths and common interests, while also being able to help one another when weaknesses are acknowledged.  This is behavior that I usually don’t see cemented until 2nd Quarter… accomplished during week 1 because of a structure that was about embracing diversity through INFORMAL DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS.

Overall, the training taught me NOT TO FEAR DATA and that data was bigger than traditional formative and summative data gleaned from content assessments.  I feel more comfortable with getting data and teaching my learners how to interpret it to increase their own knowledge.  Having tablet technology in each learners’ hands should make the task even easier.  Tablet distribution is this Thursday, so I’ll definitely tell you how it goes….