This was a "next level" course. It really put you into the role of a Data Coach and for those of us who are still teaching, it really got us prepared for what life outside of the classroom may be like. The Three most important aspects of this course that I learned were the Data Wise Improvement Process, the instructions on how to develop a data team, and the practice in analyzing school data. The most important part about the Data Wise Improvement Process is its "Cyclical Nature." (Boudett 2015 p.5) Once you prepare for the process it will continue to continue to recycle back into the "Inquiry" phase to assess any and all action you and your school takes. This instills a process of continual accountability and ensures your goals are on continual improvement. The most important component of developing your Data Team to me was hands down setting a strong foundation in Cultural Proficiency. The extensive norms, guidelines, practices, and coaching of the Cultural Proficiency Continuum was quite profound to me. Especially, the training of the Data Coach on how to prepare and practice to reframe any and all inappropriate comments so that the Data team learns how get around any bias. The instruction that the Data Coach addresses any attacks or confrontational comments in a trusting manner, sets up a team support system that allows for growth in accepting others and acknowledging that everyone will learn and grow . When a team member something inappropriate, the team trusts that they are not wholeheartedly against anyone in particular. This understanding that all people are needed and are an integral part of either the school or more specifically a needed part of your data team, sets a pattern of improvement and growth that will intern make that data team member or members more effective in all encounters with students. The most important part of analyzing school data, was to give us all a tangible and real understanding of our school and our students. We were able to look at achievement gaps and have existed in the past and have improved or grown. We can dig deeper into both of these instances an check what our school is doing and understand its effectiveness. If it's good, support it, if it is not working, get rid of it. Also, I think the text books will be great tools to use in the future, and in particular how integrating the ACE Habits of Mind into all of this will be very helpful. I have a very detailed research proposal that I developed on my particular class and am planning on creating a yearlong action plan to go along with it. My research question is, "How do the practices in Adventure Quest like creating a welcome setting, building a team through trust activities, and developing self-awareness while interacting with each other outside and with nature affect my students overall attitude towards learning and success at school?" I plan to research several already existing research outcomes based on outdoor ed and exercise, add findings from school data, and incorporate student journals and interviews. I hope to use these findings to encourage Fulton County to incorporate Adventure Quest into all middle schools and maybe some elementary or high schools too.
This was a "next level" course. It really put you into the role of a Data Coach and for those of us who are still teaching, it really got us prepared for what life outside of the classroom may be like.
ReplyDeleteThe Three most important aspects of this course that I learned were the Data Wise Improvement Process, the instructions on how to develop a data team, and the practice in analyzing school data.
The most important part about the Data Wise Improvement Process is its "Cyclical Nature." (Boudett 2015 p.5) Once you prepare for the process it will continue to continue to recycle back into the "Inquiry" phase to assess any and all action you and your school takes. This instills a process of continual accountability and ensures your goals are on continual improvement.
The most important component of developing your Data Team to me was hands down setting a strong foundation in Cultural Proficiency. The extensive norms, guidelines, practices, and coaching of the Cultural Proficiency Continuum was quite profound to me. Especially, the training of the Data Coach on how to prepare and practice to reframe any and all inappropriate comments so that the Data team learns how get around any bias. The instruction that the Data Coach addresses any attacks or confrontational comments in a trusting manner, sets up a team support system that allows for growth in accepting others and acknowledging that everyone will learn and grow . When a team member something inappropriate, the team trusts that they are not wholeheartedly against anyone in particular. This understanding that all people are needed and are an integral part of either the school or more specifically a needed part of your data team, sets a pattern of improvement and growth that will intern make that data team member or members more effective in all encounters with students.
The most important part of analyzing school data, was to give us all a tangible and real understanding of our school and our students. We were able to look at achievement gaps and have existed in the past and have improved or grown. We can dig deeper into both of these instances an check what our school is doing and understand its effectiveness. If it's good, support it, if it is not working, get rid of it. Also, I think the text books will be great tools to use in the future, and in particular how integrating the ACE Habits of Mind into all of this will be very helpful.
I have a very detailed research proposal that I developed on my particular class and am planning on creating a yearlong action plan to go along with it. My research question is, "How do the practices in Adventure Quest like creating a welcome setting, building a team through trust activities, and developing self-awareness while interacting with each other outside and with nature affect my students overall attitude towards learning and success at school?" I plan to research several already existing research outcomes based on outdoor ed and exercise, add findings from school data, and incorporate student journals and interviews. I hope to use these findings to encourage Fulton County to incorporate Adventure Quest into all middle schools and maybe some elementary or high schools too.