Data Collection

Data collection is a big issue at Blair High School. This is mainly due to being on the watch list for not making AYP over the last few years. Administration has responded by looking at grade data. This was done both through internal means and external. Internally, we have developed data collection through the use of Filemaker Pro. This allows administration to track student performance and break it down in myriad ways. The information was then presented to the staff through the use of charts for the purpose of analyzation. These numbers have subsequently dictated our School Improvement Plans.

A second way in which Blair has used data collection is through reading tests. Literacy is a goal of Blair so each year the freshmen are given reading tests to determine their MAP-R scores. The faculty is then trained on reading these scores and how to work with low level readers. Administration then looks for evidence of literacy instruction as they observe classes.

On a smaller scale, the U.S. History team meets after the first semester exams to discuss grades and exam scores. The grades are gathered and printed through Pinnacle. Teacher’s names are removed to facilitate open and honest dialogue about where improvement could be made. Specifically, we look at the comparison between students who pass a teacher’s class but not the count-wide final.

In reading the article, “Finding your way through the Data Smog”, I discovered an area where Blair could use some improvement. In professional development, there is little to no data collection done to assess the level of knowledge the staff possesses. The beginning of the 2009-2010 school year illustrates the negative ramifications of this inadequacy. Staff was asked to participate in a round-robin training season that lasted the entire day. This included training in technology applications such as the Promethean Board and the use of Filemaker Pro. Unfortunately, there was no differentiation in these training sessions leaving experienced teachers bitter and feeling as though their time had not been respected. Not exactly a positive beginning to the year. Following a model such as the one presented in the article would have been a more effective use of everyone’s time.