Data Lit

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...

Personal communication is often overlooked as an assessment method, yet it is probably more frequently used than any of the other methods. In this episode, we explore how to use personal communication to collect evidence of what students know and are able to do, as well well as highlight ways in which students themselves can play a role as co-assessors. Double, K.S., McGrane, J.A., Hopfenbeck, T.N...

We continue our analysis of assessment methods by learning about extended written response. Often considered just a tool for language arts, we explore how every teacher can leverage extended response assessments to reveal and provide feedback on student learning. Yet doing so isn’t always easy, so tune into this episode to learn how to maximize this assessment method. Resources from the episode: S...

This episode kicks off the Assessment Method series by diving into the first of the 4 methods discussed - Selected Response. During the episode we provide examples of how we each used selected response items in our classes, as well as share how this method can enhance the characteristics of feedback. There’s even a sports reference thrown in just to show that assessment discussions are not just li...

Before we launch into our first series on Assessment Methods, we wanted to take a moment to explore just what the purpose of assessment is.  After an odd-but-hopefully-insightful potty-training analogy, each host shares a different model for what assessment means: A hamburger, the latin roots of the word, and a three-legged stool.  We then chat about what these models reveal about assess...

Welcome to the Data Lit podcast! We're kicking off our show with a brief introduction to our hosts, all of whom work for the Data, Research, and Accountability department for Wake County Public Schools. We then discuss the series we'll cover in our first season, highlighting some of the main topics we'll hit. You can learn more about the show and send a message to the hosts at www.wcpss.net/datali...