T/TAC W&M has a new resource guide to help newsletter readers find valuable educational resources related to the topic of data analysis. We have compiled current online resources, arranged them by media type, highlighted the five we found most helpful to practitioners, and identified those that are most family-friendly. View the Data Analysis Resource Guide, compiled by Nick Kier. We will share additional guides in the upcoming 2017-18 editions of Link Lines.
Data-Based Decision Making
Data is a term frequently used in education. The terms data-based decision making and data-driven decision making are also often used. But what is data and what decisions are driven by this data? Merriam-Webster (2015) defines data as “facts or information used usually to calculate, analyze, or plan something”. The key to using data wisely is to identify the “something” that will be analyzed or planned before actually starting to gather the data.
Schools make many decisions that require analysis of high-quality, rich data. Such decisions inform strategic planning, school zoning, resource allocation, teacher assignment, and instructional practices. According to Earl and Katz (2006),
Data and Learning Connections for Families and Students
- teachers collect meaningful data,
- students know where they are in relation to learning targets, and
- families understand their child’s academic progress (Goodrich, 2014, p.2).
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