LibGuides: EDA655: Module 2

Module 2 Required Resources

Textbook

A. R. Shoho & B. G. Barnett, Eds. (2014). Using data in schools to inform leadership and decision making. Information Age Publishing.

The course textbook can be accessed via the NU Library at no additional cost. To find the text, go to the library (library.nu.edu) and search for the textbook by its title. You may access it online via Ebook Central or download a copy to your device using Adobe Digital Editions reader.

For Module 2, you will read:

Chapter 6: Which data do principals and teachers use to inform their practice? Evidence from Germany with a focus on the influence of school culture
This chapter takes us to Germany to contrast the data used by administrators versus teachers to inform decision-making. As you read, consider which kinds of data are used by teachers and administrators at your school. Do these different approaches create a gap? If so, what could you do to bridge this gap from a principal's role? As the chapter alludes, some of your work in this area is likely to involve cultivating a healthy school culture. According to the study, what were the common attributes predicting whether a school consistently used data (evidence)? One final lens to apply to your reading is that of mixed methods. We'll discuss this more in future models, but you can gain many more insights from a study combining quantitative and qualitative approaches, as opposed to a solely-quantitative or solely-qualitative design.
Chapter 4: Strengthening collaborative practices in schools: The need to cultivate development perspectives and diagnostic approaches
This chapter brings us to Chicago and explores how to introduce teachers to data through data teams. As you read, consider whether you would take a similar approach in encouraging teachers to engage with data at your school. What would you adopt from this approach, and what would you change? What other actions would you take to facilitate an environment where teachers can meaningfully engage with data without hindrance?

Articles

Making data meaningful: A field guide for school leaders
Bonde, E. (2021, April 13). Making data meaningful: A field guide for school leaders. Atlas. https://www.onatlas.com/blog/making-data-meaningful-a-field-guide-for-school-leaders
Do you want to hear about data from a teacher-turned-principal? In this blog post, a principal offers practical advice on how to practically use data to inform school decision-making.

Videos

Data: It’s Just Part of Good Teaching
Data Quality Campaign (Director). (2014, September 8). Data: It’s Just Part of Good Teaching. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usbud9ZFaEA
Watch this 4-minute video to see how data strengthened collaboration and united focus at an elementary school in RI. Do you think administrators are obliged to use the data if they collect it? What kinds of data are teachers already collecting at your school?
Teachers (and students) get smart with data in Long Beach
Data Quality Campaign (Director). (2015b, August 26). Teachers (and students) get smart with data in Long Beach. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbQLItNw04M
Watch this 3-minute video for an overview of a California school district’s experience using data. What are some fears you’ve heard teachers voice about data usage? How can administrators provide access to the data teachers need, and more generally build a culture that values data?

Module 2 Optional Resources

Analyzing data from your classroom
Clark, J. S., Porath, S., Thiele, J., & Jobe, M. M. (n.d.). Analyzing data from your classroom. In Action Research. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://kstatelibraries.pressbooks.pub/gradactionresearch/chapter/chap6/
Skim this chapter for practical advice on how to make meaning from your data. While the chapter’s title suggests that it focuses on classroom data, the step-by-step guidance offered is relevant to using all kinds of quantitative and qualitative data. If you work with qualitative data (or intend to in the future), you may want to bookmark this resource to keep as a reference, particularly the section under “A framework for qualitative data analysis and interpretation.” That section describes how to work with qualitative data more clearly than most resources you’ll find.