Overcoming Data Obstacles

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).  Data Analysis for Continuous School Improvement (2nd ed.).  Larchmont, NY: Eye on Education Inc.
• Data-based Decision Making in Education: Kim Schildkamp, Mei Kuin Lai, Lorna Earl
• Data Quality Campaign. (2014, February 1). Teacher Data Literacy: It’s About Time. https://dataqualitycampaign.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/DQC-Data-Literacy-Brief.pdf
• DuFour, R. (2015, November). How PLCs do Data Right. Educational Leadership, 73(3), 22-26. https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/how-plcs-do-data-right
• Goodwin, B. (2015, November 1). Mindsets are key to effective data use. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/mindsets-are-key-to-effective-data-use
• Sorrells, A. (2019, December 18). Here’s what 800+ NC teachers think about education data. Education NC. https://www.ednc.org/nc-teacher-education-data-survey/

Resources for WCPSS staff:

• Atlas - Looking at Data protocol
• Data Driven Dialogue protocol
• DRA’s Data Literacy Course
• DRA’s “Evaluating Data after a Pandemic” Office Hours Session
• TIPS Guide with Protocols
  
  

WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.

Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler

Theme music provided by Cary High School's Logan Foster

Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System