Data Lit

Oftentimes we get data  and start to analyze the numbers without pausing to look at the data set with a critical eye. However, as a result of the pandemic, we have had to take a step back and ponder the impact that disruptions could have on any data analyses as we return to “normal”. In this episode, Being a Data Critic, we interview Julie Molique, Senior Director  in the WCPSS Departmen...

The data teachers use to make decisions can come from various sources, including knowing their students’ learner profiles, understanding the implementation of new instructional programs, and even reviewing student achievement results. Tune in to our interview with three WCPSS teachers, Mieya Bumpers, Lynzi Daniel, and Kevin Ledger, who share not only how they utilize different data, but strategies...

Looking at school data to identify future opportunities and possible challenges in growing each student each day is critical in planning successful school outcomes. Kindly tune in to explore some practical ways WCPSS principals Michelle Bell, Aaron Marcin, and Robert Gupton at the elementary, middle, and high schools lead with data in their schools. WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and...

“It’s more important now than ever to really identify what’s going on in our instruction.” MTSS Coaches Sandy Carter and Mickey Gurganus join us to discuss how data-based problem solving can be used to provide an effective and equitable learning environment for our students. Tune in for some practical tips for how PLTs can leverage data to improve instruction. (And there’s even an acronym quiz thr...

In this episode, we explore the parallels between educational data and baseball data. We look at the past, present, and future of each, discussing how advancements in one industry can inform the other. You don’t have to be a baseball fan to learn something from this home run of an episode! Research & Resources from the episode: Daily JSTOR - A Short History of Standardized Tests Goodhart’s Law...

In this episode, we tackle three obstacles that sometimes prevent staff from engaging with educational data: Separating the signal from the noise, lack of time, and determining next steps. For each we provide listeners with practical tips for how to overcome those barriers so they can more easily implement data literacy skills in their positions. Research from the episode: Bernhardt, V. (2004). &n...

It’s not enough to be able to interpret data, to truly initiate change, you have to be able to effectively communicate data. In this episode, we review five practical tips for how to talk about data with staff, students, and families. Research from the episode: Adaptive Schools. (n.d.). Seven Norms of Collaborative Work . Retrieved November 1, 2021 from http://theadaptiveschool.weebly.com/7-norms-...

In order to make decisions about how well a school is doing, we need to look at multiple measures in order to uncover the full story. In this episode, your hosts will explore the four main data types (Student Learning, Demographic, Perceptions, & School Processes) by sharing where these types show up in our buildings and how they work together to impact school improvement. Research from the ep...

You got the data! Now what? In this first episode, we explain what it means to be data literate and explore some critical skills data-literate individuals/educators should have. Research from the episode: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. (n.d.). EL Takeaways: 8 Data points to ponder . ASCD. https://files.ascd.org/staticfiles/ascd/pdf/journals/ed_lead/el201511_takeaways.pdf A...

We conclude our conversation with author and educator Rick Wormeli by discussing how teachers can implement best practices without burying themselves in work. After touching upon what ideas about grading we should carry with us in a post-pandemic world, we share our takeaways from our interview. Resources for WCPSS staff: Goodwin, B. & Rouleau, K. (2020, September 1). Research matters / gradin...

“Accountability is a mutual commitment to the others’ success,” according to Yale Business School. We unpack this idea in the second part of our three-episode interview with author and educator Rick Wormeli. In doing so, we look into using grades as motivators, the difference between sense-making and meaning-making, as well as why we should be open to giving students second chances on assessments....

In this first segment of our three-part interview with educator and author Rick Wormeli, we dive into what is the purpose of grades, what should be included in a grading plan, and how we can balance effective grading policies with accountability mandates. References & Resources: Re-learning and Re-assessing: Practical Tips by Rick Wormeli (AMLE) Redos and Retakes Done Right by Rick Wormeli, Ed...

Welcome to the second season of Data Lit! In this episode, we preview the upcoming season, ask what does it mean to be data literate, and share what we’re looking forward to in the upcoming shows. WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here . Music for this episode is provided by Moore Square Magnet Middle School’s Maya Smith. Hosts: Mellisa Smi...

It’s hard to believe that the end of the first season of the Data Lit podcast is upon us. Join Spencer, Serena, and Mellisa as they recap the highlights from their main series around Assessment Methods, Assessment Types, and Feedback. WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on any of the completed series from this season. Learn more here . Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead,...

We conclude our series on feedback with a crossover episode, chatting with WCPSS Digital Learning cohosts Chris Zirkle and Katie Heyward, as well as their fellow Digital Learning Coordinator Sadie Hoover. Together we discuss how digital tools can aid teachers in providing feedback for students. Tune in to pick up some practical ideas that you can immediately embed into your classroom! References f...

In this episode, we interviewed students ranging from kindergarten through high school about their thoughts on feedback, touching upon how they receive it, how they use it, and how they would advise teachers to deliver it. Afterwards, we debrief, sharing our takeaways from what we heard. References from the episode: Ferriter, W. M., & Cancellieri, P. J. (2017). Creating a Culture of Feedback:...

In her book Postcards and Pearls, author Gina Greenlee says: “Experience is a master teacher, even when it’s not our own.” It is for this reason that in the second part of our Feedback series we will lean on the experience of our district’s teachers, students and Digital Learning Coordinators. In this episode, we invite two local science teachers, Bill Ferriter and Paul Cancellieri, who are life-l...

As we explore the concept of feedback, one of our key take-aways has been the notion that feedback must be received by the learner in order to be effective; as a result, how feedback is given plays an instrumental role in how it is received.  In this episode, we provide educators with some considerations when giving written or oral feedback, as well as strategies for feedback in group and one...

In our last episode, we focused on the "Why of Feedback”. We established that "Feedback" plays a crucial role in student learning as it enables them to correct or improve their work and gain new knowledge. In this episode, the "Who of Feedback,” we identify the different individuals who provide feedback. In the classroom, the teacher typically is the first person who comes to mind when we think of...

Researchers have found feedback to be important and impactful - for example, John Hattie (1999) describes feedback as the “most powerful single moderator that enhances achievement”.  In this episode, we begin by sharing why we used feedback as classroom teachers and what lessons we learned as part of the process of giving feedback to ourselves to improve our own practice. We also share a litt...

We kick off our series on feedback with a pair of haikus from Mellisa and Serena: Feedback can be harsh What else will I have to change? Now, is it better? *** Feedback helps your growth Done well, not ‘bout your self worth Needed when remote *** These poetic gems weren’t just included to embarrass the co-hosts, but to serve as models for pieces of work that might receive feedback. Spencer then us...

In this episode we continue to explore the different assessment types by taking a look at Assessments for Learning (aka Formative Assessments).  We start by sharing a few analogies (Cooking/Dress Rehearsal/Journey) to frame and define assessments for learning, then we discuss some classroom examples that teachers can use before wrapping up with a discussion which brings home the point that bo...

In this episode, we share our insights on what is Assessment of Learning, reviewing summative and interim assessments, as well as their purpose based on our experiences as teachers. We do so through the analogy of taking a vacation, focusing on the destination while making pit-stops along the route. We discuss who the users of this assessment type are, and identify some of the different ways in wh...

We transition from our Assessment Methods series to our Assessment Types series with the help of the Karate Kid, as Mr. Miyagi’s instruction to Daniel LaRusso is illustrative for distinguishing between these two categorizations. Afterwards, we preview the upcoming series by defining assessment of learning as well as assessment for learning. Resources from the episode: Sparks, S. (2015). Types of A...

In this episode, we conclude our conversation on different assessment methods by digging into Performance Assessments. We provide a definition of the term performance assessment, identify the different types of performance assessments, and give examples of each, as used in the classroom. In examining the suitableness of the different assessment methods, we stress that no one method would reveal al...