Data Lit: Recent Episodes
Data, Research, and Accountability
Teachers are inundated with data, but none of those numbers will help if they're not paired with some accessible and informative data literacy training. This podcast seeks to empower teachers with the skills they'll need to turn the data given to them into powerful instructional practices. Recorded by educators within Wake County Public School System's Data, Research, and Accountability Department in Raleigh, NC. Learn more about the show as well as access data and assessment literacy resources at www.wcpss.net/datalit
From the role of AI in education to bus routing to the history of standardized testing, the 14 episodes in Season Four covered a wide variety of topics in the world of assessment and data literacy. Join the team as we share some of our highlights from the past year, as well as touch on what we would like to explore in the upcoming fifth season.
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Rolesville Middle School’s Jamaal Wellman
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
Questions or comments? Contact us at datalit@wcpss.net
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In this episode, we explore the fascinating evolution of standardized testing in the United States. From its humble beginnings in the 1800s to its central role in modern education, we delve into the origins and impacts of these assessments to discover how standardized tests have shaped educational policies and influenced students’ lives.
Research & Resources from the episode:
- NEA - History of Standardized Testing in the US
- JSTOR - A Short History of Standardized Tests
- The Atlantic’s piece on testing
- UNC - Making the Grade
- NC ABCs Accountability Model from 1997 to 2012
- U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, Testing in American Schools: Asking the Right Questions, OTA-SET-519 (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, February 1992).
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Rolesville Middle School’s Jamaal Wellman
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/datalit/message
Data literacy means many things to many people, so in an attempt to unpack this topic, we asked a room full of educators from across the Carolinas at NCTIES how they define this term and how they hope to enhance their data literacy.
Research & Resources from the episode:
- WCPSS Student Survey
- Quantitative & Qualitative Data episode
- Street Data Series
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Rolesville Middle School’s Jamaal Wellman
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/datalit/message
When you see that familiar yellow bus on the road, do you ever wonder about the data it takes to get students to and from school? In this episode of Data Bytes, our guest Bonnie Sluder from the WCPSS Transportation Departments shares what data she and her staff have to consider when managing the bus routing system in a district of our size. The fun facts she shares will make for great conversation starters at your next gathering.
Research & Resources from the episode:
- Data Bytes: Geospatial Analytics
- Exploring Multiple Measures in Your Data Story
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Rolesville Middle School’s Jamaal Wellman
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/datalit/message
At the core of the Street Data framework is hearing from our students, especially those whose voices are seldom represented. Join us as we discuss what it means to embrace a Pedagogy of Voice in our classrooms by sharing the six rules that can help us shift from a mind set where students are just passive participants to one where students are actively owning their learning.
Research & Resources from the episode:
- Street Data: A Next-Generation Model for Equity, Pedagogy, and School Transformation
- Cognitive Coaching Course from the Office of Professional Learning (WCPSS only)
- Retrieval Practice post (WCPSS only)
- Authentic Audiences through Celebrations of Learning Video
- Data Lit Feedback Series
- Data Lit Grading Series
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Rolesville Middle School’s Jamaal Wellman
Data, Research, and Accountability department forthe Wake County Public School System
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/datalit/message
In this episode of Data Lit, we invite Wake County’s Sarah Stephens, Senior Administrator to the Northern Area Superintendent, to help us deepen our conversation around the book Street Data. Because of her proximity to the work of schools, Sarah shares with listeners ways in which educators can apply strategies in their classrooms to get to the core of how our students are experiencing instruction in their learning journey.
Research & Resources from the episode:
- Street Data: A Next-Generation Model for Equity, Pedagogy, and School Transformation
- WCPSS’ Equity Framework
- Critical Reflection Prompts
- For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood… and the Rest of Y'all Too
- Digital Portfolios 101 Learning Central course for WCPSS
- Cult of Pedagogy: A Pathway Toward Equitable, Anti-Racist Schools
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Rolesville Middle School’s Jamaal Wellman
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/datalit/message
Join Data Lit as we sit down with Paul Cancellieri, a science teacher at Rolesville Middle School, to discover how AI has impacted his instruction and assessment. In this episode, Paul shares his experience with AI and then his three favorite prompts to engage his students.
Research & Resources for the episode:
- New Canvas Course for WCPSS: "Integrating ChatGPT Professionally" and NCDPI AI Guidance
- Learning Central Course for WCPSS: Artificial Intelligence in the Classroom
- EdSurge: Why Educators Should Lean in to AI to Better Support Students
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Rolesville Middle School’s Jamaal Wellman
Data, Research, and Accountability department forthe Wake County Public School System
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/datalit/message
Have you heard about Street Data? Prior to a year and a half ago, neither had we. However, as our district was engaging in conversations around our post-pandemic “new normal”, we came across a book by Shane Safir and Dr. Jamila Dugan called “Street Data” that called to us because of its promises of addressing data considerations with equity in mind. In this episode of Data Lit, our listeners will get a taste of what this book is about as we summarize this new model for school transformation.
Research & Resources from the episode:
- Street Data: A Next-Generation Model for Equity, Pedagogy, and School Transformation
- Best Practices for Conducting Focus Groups
- Best Practices for Developing Collaborative Surveys
- Quantitative & Qualitative Data: Why they matter in the classroom
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Theme music provided by Rolesville Middle School’s Jamaal WellmanHosts: Mellisa Smith and Spencer Ziegler
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/datalit/message
This school-year, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has adopted the North Carolina Personalized Assessment Tool, or NCPAT. In this episode of Data Lit, Maxey Moore, the Section Chief in NCDPI’s Office of Accountability and Testing helps us to unpack what educators and students can expect as we transition to this new assessment system.
Resources for the NCPAT:
- NCDPI’s NCPAT Website
- NCDPI Frequently Asked Questions
- WCPSS’ NCPAT Overview video
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Rolesville Middle School’s Jamaal Wellman
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/datalit/message
We're ringing in the new year with a holiday-themed episode of Data Lit! We give out a gift of data and then quiz each other on surprising statistics. Play along at home to see if you can beat our hosts (note: that's a fairly low bar).
Research & Resources from the episode:
- EdSurge - How AI Could Bring Big Changes to Education
- Scientific American - 9 Bizarre and Surprising Insights from Data Science
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Eva & Indy Ziegler
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/datalit/message
In our latest Data Bytes podcast episode, Senior Director Cindy DeFoor shares how she and her team in the Grants Office use their grant development and management skills to bring funding opportunities to our district, as well as what data is considered in their day-to-day operations. Tune in to learn more about the inner workings of this fascinating department. Resources are provided for both district and non-district staff.
Research & Resources from the episode:
- WCPSS District Facts
- Office of Grants’ WakeConnect Page [WCPSS only]
- Office of Grants’ Learning Central Course [WCPSS only]
- Department of Education’s What Works Clearinghouse
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Rolesville Middle School’s Jamaal Wellman
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/datalit/message
Talk of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has suddenly become ubiquitous in educational circles. Sometimes these conversations position AI as a help for education and sometimes as a hindrance; so just what is this seemingly new technology and how will it impact educators? To learn more, we’re joined by Allison Reid, the Senior Director for Digital Learning and Libraries, to explore how AI can be used (or misused) in the classroom.
Research & Resources for the episode:
- Learning Central Course for WCPSS: Artificial Intelligence in the Classroom
- Wired - The Good and Bad of ChatGPT in Schools
- Edutopia - Some ideas for using ChatGPT in Middle & High School Classes
- EdSurge - We Can’t Keep ChatGPT Out of the Classroom, so Let’s Address the ‘Why’ Behind Our Fears
- Center for Assessment - Ready or Not: AI is Changing Assessment and Accountability
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Rolesville Middle School’s Jamaal Wellman
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/datalit/message
In this Data Bytes episode, we hear how the world of geospatial technology and education are integrated. Rob Siwiec, who serves as the Senior Director of Geospatial Analytics, takes us on an eye-opening journey into the world of geospatial data and “grounds” the work of his team to the transformative power within our school system.
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on episodes. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Rolesville Middle School’s Jamaal Wellman
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/datalit/message
While classroom teachers may not have degrees in evaluation and measurement, they often find themselves creating assessments that need to measure what students have learned. In this episode, we continue our conversation with psychometrician Dr. Gregory Cizek to learn what teachers should consider when looking to ensure the validity and reliability of their own assessments.
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Rolesville Middle School’s Jamaal Wellman
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/datalit/message
Too often in education, emphasis is placed on the results of standardized tests without fully understanding the work that goes into creating those tests. This episode is the first of two where we interview Dr. Gregory Cizek, a psychometrician and distinguished professor emeritus at the University of North Carolina, to better understand the role psychometricians play in creating tests that can be used to measure what students know and are able to do.
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Theme music provided by Rolesville Middle School’s Jamaal Wellman
Hosts: Mellisa Smith and Spencer Ziegler
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/datalit/message
Data Lit is back for our fourth season! Tune in to hear what’s coming your way from WCPSS' Data, Research, and Accountability department.
Music for this episode is provided by Enloe High School's Maya Smith.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Rolesville Middle School’s Jamaal Wellman
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/datalit/message
Serena, Spencer, and Mellisa share their favorite moments from this season and then discuss what they’re looking forward to in season four.
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Enloe High School’s Maya Smith
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/datalit/message
In our next installment of Data Bytes, we discuss how Steve Kuni collects, analyzes, and uses data in his band classroom at Alston Ridge Middle School.
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Enloe High School’s Maya Smith
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/datalit/message
Ron Berger, CEO of EL Education is often quoted as saying that as educators we are preparing our students for a world where they will be judged by the quality of their character and their work. In this episode, we discuss the benefits of student work and how teachers can use it as a data source to not only improve their teaching but to help students create beautiful quality representations of their learning.
Research & Resources from the episode:
- Gathering Feedback from Student Work
- PLC+ Better Decisions and Greater Impact by Design
- How to Talk About Data Episode
- Looking at Student Work Protocol (ATLAS)
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Moore Square Middle School’s Maya Smith
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/datalit/message
Quantitative and qualitative data have their uses in the classroom, yet too often, we position one above the other. In this episode, we examine the purpose of each and how we can leverage both to drive instruction forward.
Research & Resources from the episode:
- Ho JE. What counts? The critical role of qualitative data in teachers' decision making. Eval Program Plann. 2022 Apr;91:102046. doi: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2021.102046. Epub 2022 Jan 4. PMID: 35066328.
- Minichiello, V. (1990). In-Depth Interviewing: Researching People. Longman Cheshire.
- Quantitative vs Qualitative Data: An Attempt to Clarify the Issue
- Using Data to Advance Racial Equity
- Using Social and Emotional Data to Promote a Positive School Culture
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Enloe High School’s Maya Smith
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
Throughout this series, we have explored the purpose of rubrics and how to create, interpret, and use them efficiently with students. In this final episode, we discuss grading with rubrics, using what we learned from our interviews with our guests.
Research & Resources from the episode:
- TeacherEase - “Mode” Supported for Standards-based Grade Calculation
- Cult of Pedagogy - Introducing the Hyper-Rubric
- Center for Assessment - Zero Tolerance for Zeroes
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Enloe High School’s Maya Smith
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
We are joined by Digital Learning Coordinators (DLCs) Barb Vinal, Sadie Hoover, and Wanda Hanley to discuss the value of interactive rubrics. Our DLCs review how to build and employ these types of rubrics to empower students to own their learning.
Research & Resources from the episode:
- WCPSS’ Digital Learning Coordinator Website
- WCPSS’ Digital Product Resource Library (DRPL)
- Feedback & Data with Canvas Course
- Assessing with Canvas Course
- Other Canvas learning opportunities
- Cult of Pedagogy - Introducing the Hyper-Rubric
- Edutopia - Interactive Rubrics as Assessment for Learning
- 2018-19 Student Survey Results (accessible via WCPSS internet)
- Hattie, J., & Timperley, H. (2007). The power of feedback. Review of Educational Research, 77(1), 81–112. https://doi.org/10.3102/003465430298487
WCPSS staff can demonstrate their competency in developing rubrics by earning micro-credentials.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Enloe High School’s Maya Smith
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
Join us for our first ever Data Bytes episode with Mr. Kendrick Scott, Director in the Office of Security as he enlightens us about the data they use to keep our schools safe.
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Enloe High School’s Maya Smith
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
From a temperature checker to a picture of expectations, two WCPSS ELA teachers describe the many ways rubrics, as tools, can guide students in completing assignments. Join us as we learn more about how rubrics enhance teaching and learning.
Research & Resources from the episode:
- Wested: A Strengths-Based Approach to Assessment Rubrics
- The Impact of Peer Assessment on Academic Performance: A Meta-analysis of Control Group Studies
- 2018-19 Student Survey Results
WCPSS staff can demonstrate their competency in developing rubrics by earning micro-credentials.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Enloe High School’s Maya Smith
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
In this episode, two WCPSS ELA teachers share their experiences developing and using rubrics with students. Join us as we continue to learn more about how rubrics are used as tools to solicit evidence of learning for teachers, as well as provide feedback for students to move their learning forward.
Research & Resources from the episode:
- Rubric Calibration Activity
- Wested: A Strengths-Based Approach to Assessment Rubrics
- Susan Brookhart: How to Create and Use Rubrics for Formative Assessment and Grading
- The Impact of Peer Assessment on Academic Performance: A Meta-analysis of Control Group Studies
WCPSS staff can demonstrate their competency in developing rubrics by earning micro-credentials.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Enloe High School’s Maya Smith
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
We kick off our series on rubrics by speaking to Sue Brookhart, renowned education researcher and author of the book How to Create and Use Rubrics. In our conversation, we touch on why it’s essential to tie rubrics to learning outcomes, what the common misconceptions of rubrics are, and how her perceptions of rubrics have evolved over her career.
Research & resources from the episode:
- Brookhart, S. M. (2013). How to Create and Use Rubrics for Formative Assessment and Grading. ASCD.
- Wormeli, R. (2018). Fair Isn't Always Equal: Assessment and Grading in the Differentiated Classroom. Stenhouse Publishers.
WCPSS staff can demonstrate their competency in developing rubrics by earning micro-credentials.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Enloe High School’s Maya Smith
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
Everyone pursued data to make sense of events relating to the pandemic, but not everyone was prepared for the abundance of the data. Join WCPSS Data Lit podcast hosts as they share lessons learned about data during this pandemic.
Research & Resources from the episode:
- SAS Data Literacy Essentials course
- Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
- Scientific American post “If You Say ‘Science Is Right,’ You’re Wrong” by Naomi Oreskes
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Enloe High School’s Maya Smith
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
Welcome to the third season of Data Lit! In this episode, we look back on our favorite moments from the podcast so far and look ahead to what we’re anticipating in season three.
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Music for this episode is provided by Enloe High School’s Maya Smith.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
Serena, Spencer, and Mellisa share their favorite moments from season two and then discuss what they’re looking forward to in season three.
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Moore Square Magnet Middle School’s Maya Smith
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
Ever wondered how the answers from bubble sheets get translated into data that is used to make decisions? Learn where your data comes from in this interview with WCPSS’ Senior Director of Testing, Brian Sumner. In this episode, we review what types of data the Testing Department generates and the role they play in communicating results to various stakeholders. Then see if you can identify which testing stories are true in a game of Believe it or Not.
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Moore Square Middle School’s Maya Smith
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
Throughout this season, we’ve researched and discussed ways to source, interpret, and communicate data. In this episode, we share quotes from those episodes that have resonated with us. Join us for our first clip show!
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Cary High School’s Logan Foster
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
Oftentimes we get data and start to analyze the numbers without pausing to look at the data set with a critical eye. However, as a result of the pandemic, we have had to take a step back and ponder the impact that disruptions could have on any data analyses as we return to “normal”. In this episode, Being a Data Critic, we interview Julie Molique, Senior Director in the WCPSS Department of Data, Research & Accountability to learn more about four criteria for evaluating data during and after a pandemic.
References & Resources for WCPSS Staff:
- Data Quality Campaign. (2014, February 1). Teacher Data Literacy: It’s About Time. https://dataqualitycampaign.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/DQC-Data-Literacy-Brief.pdf
- Domaleski, C., Boyer, M., & Evans, C. (2020). Restart & Recovery: Accountability interrupted: Guidance for collecting, evaluating, and reporting data in 2020-2021. Council of Chief State School Officers. https://ccsso.org/sites/default/files/2020-09/CCSSO_RR_Accountability-v3.pdf
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Theme music provided by Cary High School's Logan Foster
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
The data teachers use to make decisions can come from various sources, including knowing their students’ learner profiles, understanding the implementation of new instructional programs, and even reviewing student achievement results. Tune in to our interview with three WCPSS teachers, Mieya Bumpers, Lynzi Daniel, and Kevin Ledger, who share not only how they utilize different data, but strategies that enhance their students’ data literacy skills.
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Cary High School's Logan Foster
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
Looking at school data to identify future opportunities and possible challenges in growing each student each day is critical in planning successful school outcomes. Kindly tune in to explore some practical ways WCPSS principals Michelle Bell, Aaron Marcin, and Robert Gupton at the elementary, middle, and high schools lead with data in their schools.
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Cary High School’s Logan Foster
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
“It’s more important now than ever to really identify what’s going on in our instruction.”
MTSS Coaches Sandy Carter and Mickey Gurganus join us to discuss how data-based problem solving can be used to provide an effective and equitable learning environment for our students. Tune in for some practical tips for how PLTs can leverage data to improve instruction. (And there’s even an acronym quiz thrown in!)
References & Resources for WCPSS Staff:
- 5 Questions PLCs Should Ask to Promote Equity
- Equity Impact Analysis Questions
- Files In/Files Out (FIFO) User Guide
- National School Reform Faculty’s list of Protocols
- MTSS Coach Roles and Responsibilities
- MTSS Modules on Canvas
- Student Outcome Ad-hoc Reports (SOAR) User Guide
- TIPS Guide
- TIPS Protocols
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Cary High School’s Logan Foster
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
In this episode, we explore the parallels between educational data and baseball data. We look at the past, present, and future of each, discussing how advancements in one industry can inform the other. You don’t have to be a baseball fan to learn something from this home run of an episode!
Research & Resources from the episode:
- Daily JSTOR - A Short History of Standardized Tests
- Goodhart’s Law
- National Student Clearinghouse
- The Power of Feedback
- USA Today: MLB lockout inevitable on Dec. 1: What is in dispute and how long will it last?
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Cary High School’s Logan Foster
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
In this episode, we tackle three obstacles that sometimes prevent staff from engaging with educational data: Separating the signal from the noise, lack of time, and determining next steps. For each we provide listeners with practical tips for how to overcome those barriers so they can more easily implement data literacy skills in their positions.
Research from the episode:
- Bernhardt, V. (2004). Data Analysis for Continuous School Improvement (2nd ed.). Larchmont, NY: Eye on Education Inc.
- Data-based Decision Making in Education: Kim Schildkamp, Mei Kuin Lai, Lorna Earl
- Data Quality Campaign. (2014, February 1). Teacher Data Literacy: It’s About Time. https://dataqualitycampaign.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/DQC-Data-Literacy-Brief.pdf
- DuFour, R. (2015, November). How PLCs do Data Right. Educational Leadership, 73(3), 22-26. https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/how-plcs-do-data-right
- Goodwin, B. (2015, November 1). Mindsets are key to effective data use. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/mindsets-are-key-to-effective-data-use
- Sorrells, A. (2019, December 18). Here’s what 800+ NC teachers think about education data. Education NC. https://www.ednc.org/nc-teacher-education-data-survey/
Resources for WCPSS staff:
- Atlas - Looking at Data protocol
- Data Driven Dialogue protocol
- DRA’s Data Literacy Course
- DRA’s “Evaluating Data after a Pandemic” Office Hours Session
- TIPS Guide with Protocols
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Cary High School's Logan Foster
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
It’s not enough to be able to interpret data, to truly initiate change, you have to be able to effectively communicate data. In this episode, we review five practical tips for how to talk about data with staff, students, and families.
Research from the episode:
- Adaptive Schools. (n.d.). Seven Norms of Collaborative Work. Retrieved November 1, 2021 from http://theadaptiveschool.weebly.com/7-norms-of-collaborative-work.html
- Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. (2015, November 1). 8 Data Points to Ponder. Educational Leadership. https://files.ascd.org/staticfiles/ascd/pdf/journals/ed_lead/el201511_takeaways.pdf
- Datnow, A., & Park, V. (2015, November). Five (Good) Ways to Talk About Data. Educational Leadership, 73(3), 10-15. https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/five-(good)-ways-to-talk-about-data
- DuFour, R. (2015, November). How PLCs do Data Right. Educational Leadership, 73(3), 22-26. https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/how-plcs-do-data-right
- Finnigan, K., Daly, A. J., & Che, J. (2012). Mind the gap: Learning, trust, and relationships in an underperforming urban system. American Journal of Education, 119(1), 41–71.
- Goodwin, B. (2015, November). Mindsets Are Key to Effective Data Use. Educational Leadership, 73(3), 78-79. https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/mindsets-are-key-to-effective-data-use
- Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking, Fast and Slow. Farrar, Straus and Giroux
- McWilliams, L., & Patton, C. (2015, November). How to Share Data with Families. Educational Leadership, 73(3), 46-49. https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/how-to-share-data-with-families
Resources for WCPSS staff:
- DRA’s Data Literacy Course
- TIPS Guide with Protocols
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Cary High School’s Logan Foster
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
In order to make decisions about how well a school is doing, we need to look at multiple measures in order to uncover the full story. In this episode, your hosts will explore the four main data types (Student Learning, Demographic, Perceptions, & School Processes) by sharing where these types show up in our buildings and how they work together to impact school improvement.
Research from the episode:
- Bernhardt, V. (2004). Data Analysis for Continuous School Improvement (2nd ed.). Larchmont, NY: Eye on Education Inc.
- McDonal, J.P., Isacoff, N.M., and Karin, D. (2018). Data and Teaching: Moving Beyond Magical Thinking to Effective Practice. New York, NY: Teachers College Press.
- Morrison, J. (2008, December 8). Why Teachers Must be Data Experts. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/why-teachers-must-be-data-experts
Resources for WCPSS staff:
- Data-Based Problem Solving for Continuous School Improvement
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Cary High School’s Logan Foster
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
You got the data! Now what? In this first episode, we explain what it means to be data literate and explore some critical skills data-literate individuals/educators should have.
Research from the episode:
- Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. (n.d.). EL Takeaways: 8 Data points to ponder. ASCD. https://files.ascd.org/staticfiles/ascd/pdf/journals/ed_lead/el201511_takeaways.pdf
- Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. (2015). How to share data with families. ASCD. https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/how-to-share-data-with-families
- Mandinach, E. (2013, September 13). Data literacy vs assessment literacy. Micheal and Susan Dell Foundation. https://www.dell.org/insight/ellen-mandinach-data-literacy-vs-assessment-literacy/#
- Precisely Editor. (2019, March 29). What is data literacy & why is it important? https://www.precisely.com/blog/data-integrity/data-literacy-what-it-is-and-why-it-matters
Resources for WCPSS staff:
- Smith, M. (2019). Data literacy. Data, Research and Accountability. https://wcpss.truenorthlogic.com/ia/empari/learning2/course/viewCourseSearch?courseId=13130
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Cary High School's Logan Foster
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
We conclude our conversation with author and educator Rick Wormeli by discussing how teachers can implement best practices without burying themselves in work. After touching upon what ideas about grading we should carry with us in a post-pandemic world, we share our takeaways from our interview.
Resources for WCPSS staff:
- Goodwin, B. & Rouleau, K. (2020, September 1). Research matters / grading to encourage re-rearning. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/grading-to-encourage-re-learning
- Wormeli. R. (2020, May 8). Descriptive feedback techniques - Part 1 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78y5Csm5N8g
- Wormeli. R. (2020, May 8). Descriptive feedback techniques - Part 2 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgpumwMOe4g
- Wormeli, R. (2018). Fair isn't always equal: Assessment and grading in the differentiated classroom. Stenhouse Publishers.
- Wormeli. R. (2011). Redos and retakes done right. Educational Leadership. https://www.newenglandssc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Redos-and-Retakes-Done-Right-Rick-Wormeli-1.pdf
- Wormeli. R. (n.d.). Re-learning and re-assessing: Practical tips. Association for Middle Level Education. https://www.amle.org/re-learning-and-re-assessing-practical-tips/
- Wormeli. R. (n.d.). We have to prepare students for the next level, don’t we? Association for Middle Level Education. https://www.amle.org/we-have-to-prepare-students-for-the-next-level-dont-we/
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Cary High School’s Logan Foster
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
“Accountability is a mutual commitment to the others’ success,” according to Yale Business School. We unpack this idea in the second part of our three-episode interview with author and educator Rick Wormeli. In doing so, we look into using grades as motivators, the difference between sense-making and meaning-making, as well as why we should be open to giving students second chances on assessments.
Resources for WCPSS staff:
- Fair Isn’t Always Equal, Rick Wormeli
- Re-learning and Re-assessing: Practical Tips by Rick Wormeli (AMLE)
- Redos and Retakes Done Right by Rick Wormeli, Educational Leadership (ASCD); Nov 2011, 69(3), pp 22-26
- Descriptive Feedback Techniques -Part 1 video by Rick Wormeli
- Descriptive feedback Techniques - Part 2 video by Rick Wormeli
- We Have to Prepare Students for the Next Level, Don’t We? by Rick Wormeli (AMLE)
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Cary High School’s Logan Foster
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
In this first segment of our three-part interview with educator and author Rick Wormeli, we dive into what is the purpose of grades, what should be included in a grading plan, and how we can balance effective grading policies with accountability mandates.
References & Resources:
- Re-learning and Re-assessing: Practical Tips by Rick Wormeli (AMLE)
- Redos and Retakes Done Right by Rick Wormeli, Educational Leadership (ASCD); Nov 2011, 69(3), pp 22-26
- Descriptive Feedback Techniques -Part 1 video by Rick Wormeli
- Descriptive feedback Techniques - Part 2 video by Rick Wormeli
- We Have to Prepare Students for the Next Level, Don’t We? by Rick Wormeli (AMLE)
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Cary High School’s Logan Foster
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
Welcome to the second season of Data Lit! In this episode, we preview the upcoming season, ask what does it mean to be data literate, and share what we’re looking forward to in the upcoming shows.
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Music for this episode is provided by Moore Square Magnet Middle School’s Maya Smith.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
It’s hard to believe that the end of the first season of the Data Lit podcast is upon us. Join Spencer, Serena, and Mellisa as they recap the highlights from their main series around Assessment Methods, Assessment Types, and Feedback.
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on any of the completed series from this season. Learn more here.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Theme music provided by Moore Square Magnet Middle School's Maya Smith.
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
We conclude our series on feedback with a crossover episode, chatting with WCPSS Digital Learning cohosts Chris Zirkle and Katie Heyward, as well as their fellow Digital Learning Coordinator Sadie Hoover. Together we discuss how digital tools can aid teachers in providing feedback for students. Tune in to pick up some practical ideas that you can immediately embed into your classroom!
References from the episode:
-
WCPSS Digital Learning Podcast
- Flavorful Feedback Episode
- Digital Badges Episode
- Giving Meaningful Digital Feedback
- Hattie & Timperley (2007) The Power of Feedback. Review of Educational Research (Vol 77, No1).
Theme music created by Centennial Middle School’s Maya Smith
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System.
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
In this episode, we interviewed students ranging from kindergarten through high school about their thoughts on feedback, touching upon how they receive it, how they use it, and how they would advise teachers to deliver it. Afterwards, we debrief, sharing our takeaways from what we heard.
References from the episode:
- Ferriter, W. M., & Cancellieri, P. J. (2017). Creating a Culture of Feedback: Empower Students to Own Their Learning (Solutions for Creating the Learning Spaces Students Deserve). Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree.
- Wiliam, D. (2011). Embedded formative assessment: Practical strategies and tools for K–12 teachers. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree.
Theme music created by Centennial Middle School’s Maya Smith
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
In her book Postcards and Pearls, author Gina Greenlee says: “Experience is a master teacher, even when it’s not our own.” It is for this reason that in the second part of our Feedback series we will lean on the experience of our district’s teachers, students and Digital Learning Coordinators. In this episode, we invite two local science teachers, Bill Ferriter and Paul Cancellieri, who are life-long practitioners of feedback to share lessons learned and practical strategies we all should consider as we build a culture of feedback in the classroom.
References:
- Brookhart, S. M. (2017). How to give effective feedback to your students. (2nd Ed.) ASCD, Alexandria VA
- Ferriter, W. M., & Cancellieri, P. J. (2017). Creating a culture of feedback: Empower students to own their learning (Solutions for Creating the Learning Spaces Students Deserve). Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree.
- Marzano, R., Pickering, D., & Pollock, J. (2001). Classroom instruction that works: Research-based strategies for increasing student achievement. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
- Wiggins, G. (2012). Seven keys to effective feedback. Educational Leadership, 70(1), 10-16. http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/sept12/vol70/num01/Seven-Keys-to-Effective-Feedback.aspx
- Wiliam, D. (2012). Feedback: Part of a system. Educational Leadership, 70(1), pp. 30–34. http://www.ascd.org
Theme music created by Moore Square Magnet Middle School’s Maya Smith
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Guests: Bill Ferriter and Paul Cancellieri
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
As we explore the concept of feedback, one of our key take-aways has been the notion that feedback must be received by the learner in order to be effective; as a result, how feedback is given plays an instrumental role in how it is received. In this episode, we provide educators with some considerations when giving written or oral feedback, as well as strategies for feedback in group and one-on-one contexts.
References from the episode:
- Brookhart, S. M. (2017). How to Give Effective Feedback to Your Students. (2nd Ed.) ASCD, Alexandria VA
- Gonzalez, J., & Johnson, M. (2020, May 10). Flash Feedback: How to Provide More Meaningful Feedback in Less Time. Retrieved September 17, 2020, from https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/flash-feedback/
- Hattie, J., & Timperley, H. (2007). The power of feedback. Review of Educational Research, 77(1), 81–112. https://doi.org/10.3102/003465430298487
WCPSS staff can earn credit for listening to and reflecting on completed series. Learn more here.
Theme music created by Centennial Middle School’s Maya Smith
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System.
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
In our last episode, we focused on the "Why of Feedback”. We established that "Feedback" plays a crucial role in student learning as it enables them to correct or improve their work and gain new knowledge. In this episode, the "Who of Feedback,” we identify the different individuals who provide feedback. In the classroom, the teacher typically is the first person who comes to mind when we think of who gives feedback. However, we have identified that feedback can come from students doing a personal critique of their work or providing feedback to their peers and teachers.
References:
- Brookhart, S. M. (2017). How to give effective feedback to your students. (2nd Ed.) ASCD, Alexandria VA
- Bruce, L. (2001). Student self-assessment: Making standards come alive. Classroom Leadership. Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/publications/classroom_leadership/sept2001/Student_Self-Assessment.aspx
- Double, K.S., McGrane, J.A. & Hopfenbeck, T.N. The impact of peer assessment on academic
- performance: A meta-analysis of control group studies. Educ Psychol Rev 32, 481–509 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-019-09510-3
- Hattie, J. & Clarke, S. (2019). Visible learning feedback. Routledge.
- Wiggins. G. (2012). Feedback for learning: Seven keys to effective feedback. Educational Leadership, 70(1), 10-16. Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/sept12/vol70/num01/Seven-Keys-to-Effective-Feedback.aspx
- Wiliam, D. (2011). Embedded formative assessment: Practical strategies and tools for K–12 teachers. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree
Wake County staff can receive credit for listening to a Data Lit series. Learn more here.
Theme music created by Centennial Middle School’s Maya Smith
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
Researchers have found feedback to be important and impactful - for example, John Hattie (1999) describes feedback as the “most powerful single moderator that enhances achievement”. In this episode, we begin by sharing why we used feedback as classroom teachers and what lessons we learned as part of the process of giving feedback to ourselves to improve our own practice. We also share a little about the science of how feedback affects the brain and learning, before ending with a discussion about the reality of providing feedback despite its impactfulness on achievement.
References from the episode:
Fisher, D., & Frey, N. (2012, September). Making Time for Feedback. Educational Leadership, 70(1), 42-46. http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/sept12/vol70/num01/Making-Time-for-Feedback.aspx
Gonzalez, J. (2020, May 10). Flash Feedback: How to Provide More Meaningful Feedback in Less Time. Cult of Pedagogy. https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/flash-feedback/
Hattie, J. & Timperley, H. (2007). The Power of feedback. Review of Educational Research, 77(1), p81-112.
Stafford, T. (2013, February 25). Why your brain loves to get feedback. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20130226-why-your-brain-loves-feedback
Theme music created by Moore Square Magnet Middle School’s Maya Smith
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
We kick off our series on feedback with a pair of haikus from Mellisa and Serena:
Feedback can be harsh
What else will I have to change?
Now, is it better?
Feedback helps your growth
Done well, not ‘bout your self worth
Needed when remote
These poetic gems weren’t just included to embarrass the co-hosts, but to serve as models for pieces of work that might receive feedback. Spencer then uses Hattie and Timperley’s four levels of feedback (task, processing, self-regulation, and self) to let them know how they did.
Resources from the episode:
- Winne, P. H., & Butler, D. L. (1994). Student cognition in learning from teaching. In T. Husen & T. Postlewaite (Eds.), International encyclopaedia of education (2nd ed., pp. 5738-5745). Oxford, UK: Pergamon
- Hattie, J., & Timperley, H. (2007). The power of feedback. Review of Educational Research, 77(1), 81–112. https://doi.org/10.3102/003465430298487
- Brookhart, S. M. (2017). How to Give Effective Feedback to Your Students. (2nd Ed.) ASCD, Alexandria VA
Theme music created by Moore Square Magnet Middle School’s Maya Smith
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
In this episode we continue to explore the different assessment types by taking a look at Assessments for Learning (aka Formative Assessments). We start by sharing a few analogies (Cooking/Dress Rehearsal/Journey) to frame and define assessments for learning, then we discuss some classroom examples that teachers can use before wrapping up with a discussion which brings home the point that both Assessments of and Assessments for Learning are needed for teachers and students in the instructional cycle.
References:
- ASCD - Formative Assessment: Why, What, and Whether
- Educational Sciences - The Effects of Formative Assessments
Theme song provided by Cary High School student Logan Foster
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System.
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
In this episode, we share our insights on what is Assessment of Learning, reviewing summative and interim assessments, as well as their purpose based on our experiences as teachers. We do so through the analogy of taking a vacation, focusing on the destination while making pit-stops along the route. We discuss who the users of this assessment type are, and identify some of the different ways in which Assessment of Learning can be effectively employed.
Resources from the episode:
- Crane, E. W. (2010). Building an interim assessment system: A workbook for school districts [PDF File]. Council of Chief State School Officers. Retrieved from https://www.wested.org/online_pubs/Interim_Workbook081810.pdf
- Stiggins, R.J. Arter, J.A., CHappuis, J. & Chappuis, S. (2006). Classroom assessment for student learning: Doing it right-using it well. Portland, OR: ETS
Theme song provided by Cary High School student Logan Foster
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System.
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
We transition from our Assessment Methods series to our Assessment Types series with the help of the Karate Kid, as Mr. Miyagi’s instruction to Daniel LaRusso is illustrative for distinguishing between these two categorizations. Afterwards, we preview the upcoming series by defining assessment of learning as well as assessment for learning.
Resources from the episode:
- Sparks, S. (2015). Types of Assessments: A Head-to-Head Comparison. Education Week, 35(12), 3. https://www.edweek.org/ew/section/multimedia/types-of-assessments-a-head-to-head-comparison.html
- Stiggins, R. (2008). Assessment Manifesto: A Call for the Development of Balanced Assessment Systems. Portland, OR: Assessment Training Institute.
Theme song provided by Cary High School student Logan Foster
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System.
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
In this episode, we conclude our conversation on different assessment methods by digging into Performance Assessments. We provide a definition of the term performance assessment, identify the different types of performance assessments, and give examples of each, as used in the classroom. In examining the suitableness of the different assessment methods, we stress that no one method would reveal all information we need to know about our students’ learning; rather, the use of each will depend on the learning standard (s) being addressed.
Resources from the episode:
- Goodwin, B., & Miller, K. (2012). Research says / good feedback is targeted, specific, timely. Educational Leadership, 70(1), 82–83. Retrieved from ASCD
- McTighe, J. (2015). What is a performance task? (Part 1). Defined Learning. Retrieved from https://blog.performancetask.com/what-is-a-performance-task-part-1-9fa0d99ead3b
- Stiggins, R.J. Arter, J.A., CHappuis, J. & Chappuis, S. (2006). Classroom Assessment for Student Learning: Doing It Right-Using it Well. Portland, OR: ETS
- Wiggins, G. (2012). Seven keys to effective feedback. Educational Leadership, 70(1), 10-16. Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/sept12/vol70/num01/Seven-Keys-to-Effective-Feedback.aspx
- Wren, D. G., & Garies, C. R. (2019). Assessing deeper learning: Developing, implementing, and scoring performance tasks (1st ed.). Lanham, MD :Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System.
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
Personal communication is often overlooked as an assessment method, yet it is probably more frequently used than any of the other methods. In this episode, we explore how to use personal communication to collect evidence of what students know and are able to do, as well well as highlight ways in which students themselves can play a role as co-assessors.
- Double, K.S., McGrane, J.A., Hopfenbeck, T.N. (2020, June). The Impact of Peer-Assessment on Academic Performance: A Meta-analysis of control Group Studies. Educational Psychology Review. Volume 32
- Stiggins, R.J. Arter, J.A., CHappuis, J. & Chappuis, S. (2006). Classroom Assessment for Student Learning: Doing It Right-Using it Well. Portland, OR: ETS
- Wiggins, G. (2012, September). Seven Keys to Effective Feedback. Educational Leadership. Volume 70 (1)
- WCPSS Digital Learning Coordinators (2020, June 2). Giving Meaningful Digital Feedback Podcast Episode
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
We continue our analysis of assessment methods by learning about extended written response. Often considered just a tool for language arts, we explore how every teacher can leverage extended response assessments to reveal and provide feedback on student learning. Yet doing so isn’t always easy, so tune into this episode to learn how to maximize this assessment method.
Resources from the episode:
- Stiggins, R.J. Arter, J.A., CHappuis, J. & Chappuis, S. (2006). Classroom Assessment for Student Learning: Doing It Right-Using it Well. Portland, OR: ETS
- Wiggins, G. (2012, September). Seven Keys to Effective Feedback. Educational Leadership. Volume 70 (1)
- Goodwin, B., & Miller, K. (2012). Research Says / Good Feedback Is Targeted, Specific, Timely. ASCD, 70(1), 82-83. Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/sept12/vol70/num01/Good-Feedback-Is-Targeted,-Specific,-Timely.aspx
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System.
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
This episode kicks off the Assessment Method series by diving into the first of the 4 methods discussed - Selected Response. During the episode we provide examples of how we each used selected response items in our classes, as well as share how this method can enhance the characteristics of feedback. There’s even a sports reference thrown in just to show that assessment discussions are not just limited to the classroom.
Resources from the episode:
- Prensky, M. (2007). Digital game-based learning. St. Paul, MN: Paragon House
- Stiggins, R.J. Arter, J.A., CHappuis, J. & Chappuis, S. (2006). Classroom Assessment for Student Learning: Doing It Right-Using it Well. Portland, OR: ETS
- Wiggins, G. (2012, September). Seven Keys to Effective Feedback. Educational Leadership. Volume 70 (1)
For more resources and notes, head to www.wcpss.net/datalit
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
Before we launch into our first series on Assessment Methods, we wanted to take a moment to explore just what the purpose of assessment is. After an odd-but-hopefully-insightful potty-training analogy, each host shares a different model for what assessment means: A hamburger, the latin roots of the word, and a three-legged stool. We then chat about what these models reveal about assessment.
You can learn more about this topic and send in questions for the hosts at www.wcpss.net/datalit.
Resources from the episode:
- Chen, M. (2007, February 02). Assessment: Time to Put It in Context. Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/time-put-assessment-context
- Drost, B. (2016, October 15). Sitting Beside the Learner: The 'Me' in Assessments. Retrieved from https://achievethecore.org/aligned/sitting-beside-the-learner-the-me-in-assessments/
- Torres, C. (2019). Assessment as an Act of Love. ASCD, 61(1), 2nd ser. Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/publications/newsletters/education-update/feb19/vol61/num02/Assessment-as-an-Act-of-Love.aspx
Hosts: Mellisa Smith, Serena Halstead, and Spencer Ziegler
Data, Research, and Accountability department for the Wake County Public School System
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message
Welcome to the Data Lit podcast! We're kicking off our show with a brief introduction to our hosts, all of whom work for the Data, Research, and Accountability department for Wake County Public Schools. We then discuss the series we'll cover in our first season, highlighting some of the main topics we'll hit. You can learn more about the show and send a message to the hosts at www.wcpss.net/datalit.
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/datalit/message