Since I work as a computer technician, I see I see a lot of data driven decision making and I have a positive and negative example of this. My first example deals with the on-line program called Headsprout. The teachers use this program as a way to "get rid of" or as a tool for the kids to interact with, not for educational use. They put the students on for twenty minutes every time they come to the lab. It is a great tool for those students who need help learning the letter sounds and blending, but not for those who do not follow the rules. Teachers look at the data it produces, meaning they look at what level they are on. Just looking at what level they are on is not an effective way to determine their progress because of different factors. One factor is the student's progress based on how well they performed, not at what level they are currently at. For example if they are well into the program doesn't mean they are doing well. Teachers need to look at how long they have been on the program, how many clicks they have done, and how accurate they are at answering the questions. Some students just click around until they get the right answer, so they do not really learn the content. Plus, teachers need to watch the students while they interact with the program because some students concentrate and improve by using this program, but others are not inspired and they do not get the benefit of this program. I, as the person who observes the students while they use the program, inform the teachers as much as I can about the students who aren't benefiting from the program. This is hard because they just want the time away from the students to get other work done or just for time away to think, so they want all the students on the program. The principal backs the teachers because she pays for the program and wants all the students on it. I think the students who benefits from it should use it and the other students should get other kinds of instruction. This is a negative example of data driven decision making because teachers only look at part of the data and not all the data.
There are positive data decision making with on-line programs. My positive example involves the on-line program called Achieve3000 or KidBiz3000. This program assesses students at the beginning of the school year and after each trimester. With this program, the students read an article each day, or two days a week, and they have to answer multiple choice questions, interact with a poll, complete a math problem, and complete a written response to a question about the article. The purpose of this program is to increase the child's reading level. Teachers are able to assign specific article to tie into what they are learning in class. This program also gives teachers assessments about each student and as a class. Teachers are also able to raise the students reading level if they want to challenge the student, or if they believe the child could have done better. One example I have seen involved a fourth grader who was going to be held back because of her reading level among other factors. Her teacher looked at the data, all of it, and it proved that the student increased her reading level two grade levels. The teacher then factored this data into his decision to promote this child to the next grade. Now, more teachers are using this program to increase their low readers. This is a positive data driven decision making because it with this and other examples got the principal to buy the program for the school to help other students.
Data is a good thing to have in these example because teachers could just print out reports on the students without lifting a finger. The one example shows that just pulling data is sometimes not enough and there needs to be more data collected. In the other example when all the necessary data is collected it can provide a very useful tool for teachers.
Activity Log:
3/4/09- Download podcast, start my blog, read Dr. Newberry's e-mail
3/5/09- Finish my blog, e-mail Dr. Newberry about project, read other student blogs and respond
I am going to check out those sites you mentioned they sound interesting. I wanted to comment on your blog on my page. I often wonder why books are picked, I think sometimes they get money from the publishers. Then, again I have taken part in book selection and even when they pick the book I thought was best it never is as good as it could be. I think the only way to know for sure is to have teachers pilot the books.
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