2.

8 Candidates model and facilitate the effective use of digital tools and resources to
systematically collect and analyze student achievement data, interpret results, communicate
findings, and implement appropriate interventions to improve instructional practice and
maximize student learning.

Description

The Data Overview artifact created for the ITEC 7305 Data Analysis & School

Improvement course was designed to allow for analyzing school, district, and student data in an

effort to implement appropriate intervention strategies to increase student achievement. The

purpose of this artifact is to provide insight as to where our students are currently achieving and

make recommendations for how to increase that achievement based on analyzing relative data

sources. To complete this project I had to identify a focus area in order to develop a student-

learning problem through aggregated and disaggregated data. After I was able to identify a

student-learning problem I was then able to complete the data overview to highlight the areas of

concern with 3rd grade reading fluency and connect this concern with our school improvement

plan (SIP). Finally, I was able to share this overview with our administration in an effort to

communicate my findings and share the results to inform instruction.

In creating the Data Overview artifact I was able to participate fully in the data process

using digital tools to assist me. In using specific websites to locate needed data, create graphs

and spreadsheet using Microsoft Excel, incorporating GoogleSlides software, and creating a

video presentation through ScreenCast-O-Matic video software, I utilized appropriate tools to

accomplish my task. Exploring these digital tools provided me with the opportunity to present

my findings with our administration in a manner that was well received and easy to understand.

The results of this Data Overview provided our staff with information to inform our instruction

and increase student achievement.

Standard Mastery
 The Data Overview artifact demonstrates my standard mastery through highlighting my

analysis, interpretation and recommendations of the aggregated and disaggregated achievement

data explored. Through the analyzing process I was able to pinpoint particular areas within our

3rd grade student population which showed a need to continue to increase reading fluency with

all of our students. In using the Data Wise Improvement Plan recommended in Data Wise, I was

able to inquire about how our students are achieving and develop recommendations for how to

increase that achievement (Boudette, K.P., City, E.A., & Murnane, R.J., 2015, p.6). In

constructing this artifact, I demonstrated the best use of digital tools to present data findings that

better identified patterns in an effort to assist with understanding the learning-centered problem

at hand.

Learning Gained

In creating the Data Overview project, I learned numerous things regarding the

importance of analyzing, interpreting, and recommending with regards to achievement data.

Understanding the appropriate data to review was the first piece of understanding the task to

accomplish. Since our school is viewed as high achieving, many of our staff members do not

effectively focus on data analysis to inform their instruction. Data is also viewed as something

that is confusing and overwhelming. After creating this artifact, I learned that appropriately

analyzing data is a vital piece to student success. Through deeper understanding of aggregated

data, there will now be a greater need to evaluate our disaggregated data in an effort to provide

our students with the best possible instruction in a way to meet their learning needs. At

completion of this artifact, I gained a better knowledge of how to make sense of all the data

sources needed in our school, how to best identify the use of that data, and how to recommend

areas of improvement.
 In reflecting on the Data Overview artifact one area I would like to investigate further is

the data changes when there is a change in design of aggregated data. Our state assessment has

changed through the past five years in format and outcomes measured. It would be very

interesting to me to explore the relationship among student achievement data and this change.

Many times I hear from staff members how the use of standardized tests are confusing and

unwarranted. In analyzing this area of student achievement, I would be curious to see if there are

truths to their feelings and how to best develop a plan of improvement in an effort to best serve

our students.

Impact on School Improvement, Faculty Development, or Student Learning

By completing the Data Overview artifact for our school, I was able to provide a clearer

understanding of the patterns that are developing within our student achievement. This

information will in turn provide our staff with a better look at where our instruction needs to be

examined. By following this process, the impact on student learning will be huge since our staff

will now be looking for best practices to increase student reading fluency. As our impact on

student learning increase, our impact on school improvement will also increase since oftentimes

when one occurs so does the other. This impact will show itself with our upcoming aggregated

and disaggregated data sources.

References

Boudett, K. P., City, E. A., & Murnane, R. J. (2015). Data wise: A step-by-step guide to using

assessment results to improve teaching and learning. Harvard Education Press.