Data Wise: A Step-by-Step Guide to Using Assessment Results to Improve Teaching and Learning

by Kathryn Parker Boudett (Editor), Elizabeth A. City (Editor), Richard J. Murnane (Editor)

Data A Step-by-Step Guide to Using Assessment Results to Improve Teaching and Learning presents a clear and carefully tested blueprint for school leaders. It shows how examining test scores and other classroom data can become a catalyst for important schoolwide conversations that will enhance schools’ abilities to capture teachers’ knowledge, foster collaboration, identify obstacles to change, and enhance school culture and climate.

This revised and expanded edition captures the learning that has emerged in integrating the Data Wise process into school practice and brings the book up-to-date with recent developments in education and technology Other revisions take into account changes in the roles of school data teams and instructional leadership teams in guiding the inquiry process. The authors have also updated exhibits, examples, and terminology throughout and have added new protocols and resources.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, School, Leadership, Teaching, Professional Development

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Aliyyah Salam]

If you are looking for a way to improve the PLC process, this book is it.

[Mandy]

This book is primarily aimed at administrators rather than classroom teachers. There is definitely information in here that can be used by teachers, particularly if your school is attempting to institute a school-wide program for improving the use of data to drive instruction. I found it a bit tedious, yet still very informative. It's definitely written in a way that allows you to apply the information in a sensible fashion, but only if your whole school is on board. As far as using it for the day to day in the classroom, I didn't get much out of it. Maybe I should try again?

[Robin]

A fabulous book full of information and ideas on how to collect and use data to improve instruction in the classroom. I loved this book, and I am certain I will refer to it throughout my career. The authors provide a step by step process for implementing their ideas in practice with many specific examples. In particular, I was drawn to their discussion of using protocols in the practice of group work to ensure that everyone is able to participate in a meaningful way.

[Margo]

This is a fantastic book for anyone who wants to make data a more integral part of their educational team. I loved that it not only addresses the importance of data, but goes through the step by step process of setting goals based off of collected data. It focuses on leadership skills needed so that teachers won't be turned off or feel threatened by data. Fantastic quick reference book for anyone hoping that data can drive decisions made to better meet the needs of students.

[Luca]

It is a bit technical and of course about the American school system. However, it is a great book to let you help you create a new frame of thinking data. The book is very easy to follow and gives great examples of what to do and how to do it.

recommended to anyone interested in improving his or hers teaching.

[Brenna]

I had to read this for class. It did manage to take the often dry topic of data analysis and make it easier to understand using concrete examples from their two (fictional?) sample schools.

[Michelle]

Well-written, not super boring like many textbooks... Had good ideas and easy to follow

[Maggie Mattmiller]

Dry- definitely reads like a textbook, but some good insight/strategies.

[Gerard]

I am data driven administrator and this book serves to direct how to share that information in an appropriate manner. It’s a “process” not a program so always on going. Good stuff!

[Laura Sammut]

A great read to improve data driven PLC practices in your school or team.

[Nina Schneider]

Informative but not as intuitive to me as other books read for my administrative program so far.

[Victoria]

Important work, but the process outlined in the book is overkill.

[Shannon]

Admittedly, I went into this book with more than a bit of skepticism. A book about data? How could I possibly find it interesting? Thankfully, I was wrong. As soon as I read that the authors relied heavily on protocols to lead school staff through the process of using data to drive instruction, I knew I would dig this book. I first came to protocols through the San Diego Area Writing Project, and their use has completely changed my teaching practice. There are so many varied and useful ways to ensure that all the voices within a group are heard, and, yet, so often we're content to hear from only a few loud voices and neglect the rest. A multiplicity of voices is even more essential when the stakes are children's educational experiences, and I was so thrilled to see that the authors of the book understand the ways in which protocols maximize participation and, thus, maximize buy-in during school change initiatives. They also make a very strong case for the need for effective data use in schools - even the staunchest critic would be persuaded by their common-sense, research-backed case. The authors do not advocate upending all that we're currently doing in education (though I'm not opposed to that necessarily), but they do advocate for what is a pretty reasonable goal: a more systematized examination of data to drive instruction. By the end of the book, I found myself longing for the Data Wise team to show up at my school and get us going - that's how powerful the ideas within the book were for me. (Disclaimer: I'm a huge pedagogy nerd, so maybe it's just me). In short, I'm an English teacher, and I liked this data book, which, I think, speaks to its wide appeal.

[Lauren Hegarty]

This book was required reading for my masters course, Leading School Improvement. The book offers comprehensive information on how to use data to drive decisions in education (called the Data Wise process). It could/should be used to guide using data effectively in professional learning communities. The book is best used as a manual to guide the implementation of the Data Wise process, otherwise the read itself is dry. I rate it as 3 stars because I haven't yet had the opportunity to put the ideas into practice. I'm sure once I have that opportunity and can use the book as a guide, it's value will increase considerably!

[Jeff]

This is a good introduction to the data wise process, an approach to school improvement that we have been using for the last four years. It has informed most of my work around professional development for staff, and was used as the anchoring text of the Data Wise Institute at Harvard. It is a great process, but the book is dry reading and some sections are more useful than others, because each chapter is written by different authors.

[Matt]

This is an exceptionally practical and specific resource for helping schools engage in meaningful collaboration. Although they don't specifically say "PLCs", the authors' strategies for whole school improvement is grounded in these practices. They will apply well in these types of cultures.

[Mleander23]

A great read for both the beginning and developed data schools. Chapters 3-4-5 are very useful guidelines to begin a process of not only talking about data but understanding if. Very informative protocols and the improvement process roadmap are helpful to move forward.

[David]

Most useful section is Chapter 5: Examining Instruction

[Danielle]

Interesting way to look at statistics within schools. Will probably be my bible this year at my new job.

[Tony Roehrick]

Nothing new, but a good summary of being a data=driven school.

[Michael]

I resell most of my education books. This book I will keep for reference purposes.

Chapter 3 is highly useful information.

[Angela Stewart]

A must-read for anyone involved with school improvement.

[Chris]

Helpful. Much better than Driven By Data.

[Sam]

It makes some good points, I hope they are adhered to in the collection of data.

[Donna]

keeps you focused on the schools goal of what students should know and be able to do...heavy on data analysis...both need by a teacher...but can put you to sleep....

[Steve]

While it was a required text for me to read for work, I found components of it interesting that speak to my efforts to become a better educator.

[Erin]

If there were one book I could make everyone who works in schools reads, it would be this one. It's great because it not only outlines the steps of looking at data, including a kind of "dummy's guide to the different tests we give kids and the conclusions you can make from them," but it's purpose is to use data to change instruction. To achieve this purpose, there's a how-to about classroom observations, a how-to about running meetings, and a how-to about bringing people together who don't necessarily want to be in the same room. It's fab. I want to go to the training at Harvard and spend my life running data meetings. Maybe one day!