Standards+Question+7


 * Read the Case Study regarding Data-Driven on page 17 of the NSDC Standards text handed out in class. In your PLC discuss Discussion Questions 1-3. Have a record keeper in your group synthesize your group's responses to these questions. If your group needed more information, describe what you need to know and how you would go about discovering this information.**

1. What are the various forms of data that are available in your school or district to assist with professional development and instructional decision making? Are some forms more useful than others? Various forms of data in our school to assist with professional development and instructional decisions come in the form of summitative and formative assessments to start with. These assessments are in the form of standardized tests, district made tests, DRA's CRCT, ITBS scores, math and readiing probes, performace tasks. Other forms of data may also inclued social issues like disciplinary actions, socioeconomic status and common forms of disaggregated data. The data obtained with concrete purposes tend to be more useful than othes. 2. What are benefits and potential costs of disaggregating data in the way suggested by the standard? Benefits include guidance for continuous improvement, implimention of various forms of assessments, oppportunities for teachers and administrators to acquire knowledge and skills related to formative classroom assessments. Potential costs could lose focus on the teaching and the child and focus would be on the data- numbers only. 3. What strengths and weaknesses do educators in your school or district have with regard to using data in the way recommended by the standard? The strenghts for the schools using data as directed in the standard is that student learning improves and achievement growth is seen in other forms of disaggregated student data as support of any initiatives put in place as a reasult to the analyzes. If the data is used correctly, teachers would be constantly re-evaluating teaching practices and new instructional materials. One weakness educators have with using data in the way it was recommended is truly the lack of understanding the purpose of the data and how it could impact their teaching. the achievemnet gap would then widen even more between sub groups.