Beginning the dialogue: A video-centered discussion
To begin the dialogue with your staff on integrating data-driven decision making into your learning environment, we recommend using examples of best practices. Below are screenshots and excerpts from a videotape entitled, "Principes in Action: Stories of Award-Winning Professional Development," produced by Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning and available through their website for $15.00. This video explores the experiences of four winners of the U.S. Department of Education's National Award for Model Professional Development. The segment of the video featured below focuses on the school team and its use of data. The video also demonstrates best practices in teamwork and collaboration, communication, modeling, culture, and professionalism.
"The first day I walked into Montview, my feelings were of tremendous responsibility. These kids need really good instruction... How can I do this all alone?"
"When everyone shares that same set of beliefs, it's easy to share decisions, because those decisions are always checked back with those set of beliefs we share."
It's a culture of learning that we've created here."
"What teachers need to learn and be able to do is directly driven by student data."
"Teacher-leaders--a group of master teachers with both classroom and leadership responsibilities--meet weekly. They make decisions related to instruction that affect all teachers."
"Teacher-leaders also help classroom teachers construct meaningful reporting systems and monitoring notebooks to continually track the progress of their students."
"I meet with teachers daily, monthly, quarterly, and really take a look at the student data in their classroom. And we take a look particularly at kids that aren't learning, because we need to find out why not. We need to know what to do."
"What we try to do here is to develop everyone professionally by making them a reflective thinker and sort of a scientist about the craft they are using. Everything becomes an action research project, every child becomes an opportunity."
"Debbie, our principal, has modeled being the lead-learner. She has modeled reflective thought. She has modeled all those things she would like us to be as professionals."
"All the resources, all budgetary alignments, all the professional development, all the staff meeting time, is all focused on improving student achievement."
"There is a direct link, we believe, between how well a student learns and how well a teacher teaches."
"Principles in Action: Stories of Award-Winning Professional Development," McREL (2000)