Data-Driven Decision Making
CoSN’s Data-Driven Decision Making leadership initiative (3D) is a national effort to help K-12 district level technology leaders build and sustain a data culture by providing:
- Tools and resources to help districts implement and sustain data usage.
- A national forum demonstrating the use of data to individualize the learning process and the value of technology in the process.
AASA, CoSN and Gartner Collaborate: Turning SIS/LMS Data into Action!
In the current era of maximizing accountability, district and school leaders are increasingly being asked to make classroom-level student data available in forms that are usable in improving instructional practices. These demands require that schools and districts purchase and become proficient in using increasingly sophisticated software systems. The Closing the Gap: Turning SIS/LMS Data into Action website provides free resources to the K-12 educational community and an online CoP for educational leaders and teachers! Use the reports to assist in your work towards using data effectively and share your insights by joining the open CoP!
Closing the Gap: Professional Development Toolkit is Available!
Providing educators with a step-by-step curricular plan and a set of professional resources, the Closing the Gap Professional Development Toolkit is now available. The Toolkit helps educators use educational data to strengthen instructional practice and improve student achievement. Developed in collaboration with AASA and Gartner, Inc., the Toolkit involves educators at all levels who transform districts, schools and classrooms into data-driven learning environments and may be implemented as a district, school, team or individual initiative. The Toolkit training is divided into five sections: “Building a Culture for the Effective Use of Data”; “Establishing Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)”; “Supporting Evidence-Based Practices Through the Use of Educational Data”; “Analyzing Data”; and “Identifying and Selecting Technologies That Enable the Use of Data.” Each section of the Toolkit is comprised of videos, case studies, references to reading materials, specific teaching tools, and other resources that aim to guide educators through building a data-rich culture.
Closing the Gap: Case Studies and Video Exemplars Are Available
In collaboration with AASA, (CoSN) and Gartner, Inc., in the Closing the Gap: Turning SIS/LMS Data into Action project a series of district case studies and videos that demonstrate best practices for school districts seeking to improve student achievement through data use are available. These new resources have been developed to help schools and districts nationwide use student data to strengthen teaching and learning in the classroom. The School districts cited in the case studies are:
· Fairfax County Public Schools (VA.), a system that is already reaping the benefits of an 11-year investment in transitioning to a data-driven environment.
· Ft. Bend Integrated School District (Ind.), where system and process integration now contribute to more closely aligning curriculum with test results.
· Henry County Schools (GA.), where a partnership between technology and curriculum leaders and teachers is addressing the challenge of getting data into the hands of teachers and students.
· Katy Independent School District (TX.), a system that has used a number of data systems, and data coaches, to help teachers obtain and use data in the classroom.
· Sanger Unified School District (C), a system using Professional Learning Communities to guide collaboration for increased use of data and assessment tools.
Companion videos for Katy ISD, Henry County Schools and Fairfax County Public Schools provide further insights into each district’s work towards turning data into action.
Gartner, AASA and CoSN Offer Templates to Improve Instructional Practices
In collaboration with the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) and the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), Gartner, Inc. has developed a collection of tools to help schools and districts nationwide use student data to strengthen teaching and learning in the classroom. The tools include nine templates for school districts’ use, each providing guidance on a different phase of the selection and implementation process. The templates include a checklist of critical success factors, a suggested timeline, a delineation of project roles and responsibilities for school personnel, a cost planning guide, and a guide for staff professional development.
The 2011 Technology Leaders Data-Driven Instruction Survey will assist district technology leaders in understanding and utilizing the data-driven life cycle. The survey will provide information in multiple areas to include data criteria, access and support, challenges, professional development and social structures, the role of the technology department and data systems. CoSN invites you to complete the survey!