Data Teams: Collective Inquiry to Support Student Learning

Three members of our faculty attended day one of a three part training over data teams on Monday. Our first day outlined principles of effective teamwork, collaboration, and school improvement. The tone for this training was set by viewing an excellent TEDxTalk from John Hattie where he discussed the chart below about effects on student achievement.

Being Intentional Hattie’s observation from years of research is that nearly 98% of things done in the name of enhancing student achievement work. However, there are certain activities that yield consistently high levels of achievement (yellow and green zones) that deserve our full attention. Hattie found that passion and teachers’ collective expertise account for the greatest impact on student learning. What matters most is a collective mindset that leads to inquiry and asks the question: what is my impact?   The big idea that drives the data team process is a mindset and corresponding actions that are intentional. Before moving too far ahead, our building team explored our current reality as a faculty and desired results from the data team process.

Effective Teamwork Later in the morning participants explored habits of highly effective teams by viewing a brief video from Rick DuFour about the difference between a group and a team. At just over three minutes this a great review of why some goals are best achieved through teamwork vs. going it alone. Below are a few big ideas about teamwork and effective practice shared during the first day of data team training:

Days, months, and years of service mean very little if passion, focus, and teamwork are absent. In truly highly functioning data teams teachers are modeling practice. Another indication of a successful data team is when members discuss how they administer assessments to students. Effective teams begin their work by closing the loop. What did we not complete during our last meeting? Effective teams don't leave their current meeting without planning the work and/or agenda for their next meeting.

Resource

Geier, R., & Smith, S. (2012). District and School Data Team Toolkit. Everett, WA: Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Washington School Information Processing Cooperative, and Public Consulting Group.