The Data Analytics Tool in School

noreply@blogger.com (Melissa M Brister) — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 01:37:00 +0000

Data Analytics as an Informational Tool in Educational Administration in the Last Five Years

In today’s times, every organization appears to be data driven, looking and searching for the next big piece of technology that will spew out analytical information that can catapult their facilities to the Olympic Data Golds or “Promise Land.” Schmarzo, B. (2013). Big data: Understanding how data powers big business. This ever-changing piece of technology is the so called answer to all of the concerns. However, data is not about so much the technology but the power to transform a business or school into an exemplary status. Schmarzo, B. (2013). Big data: Understanding how data powers big business.

Firstly, what exactly is Data Analytics? This definition can be a bit “murky” and can leave one feeling quite perplexed. However, according to the Analyst Firm Gartner, it was easier to define the terms “Big Data” as “high-volume, high velocity and high-variety information assets that demand cost-effective, innovative forms of information processing for enhanced insight and decision making.” Loshin, D. (2013). Big Data Analytics: From Strategic Planning to Enterprise Integration with Tools, Techniques, NoSQL, and Graph. Undoubtedly, most of the analyst municipal like to focus on the alliterative adjectives in the definition, such as “volume, velocity and variety” as the definition and is referred to as the 3V’s. Loshin, D

Now that there is a foundation for the definition, how and where is data analytic being used? Data analytic is being used in schools by administrators, teachers and specialists, just to name a few. It is used every day by a team of teachers who collaborated to analyze the data to give them insight on how to plan the next lesson. Administrators are using it side by side with counselors to determine what students are eligible for Advanced Placement or Pre-Advanced Placement classes. An excerpt from the book, “Judgment Calls,” reflects the data analysis from students’ performance at David Cox Elementary school and it reads like this, “For the past three or four years, the school’s administration and teachers—led by Nusinov, the principal—have been embracing a data-based approach to student assessment and instruction.” Davenport, T. H. & Manville, B. (2012). Judgment Calls: 12 Stories Of Big Decisions and the Teams That Got Them Right. “They analyze data to understand students’ behaviors, predict their students’ wants and needs, and offer modified products and promotions. Davenport, T. H., Harris, J. G., & Morison, R. (2010). Analytics at work: Smarter decisions, better results. Boston, Mass: Harvard Business Press.

Meanwhile, are there any perks and prizes for administrators, counselors, teachers and specialist to use all of this data to drive instruction? What’s the gold reward at the end of each data analytics? Many teachers glee when they see their students growing academically and hitting high marks. Schools are able to meet Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) and receive a great rating because analyzing the data has informed administrators and teachers about what the stakeholders or students need, in order to better accommodate them. “The class typically scores top marks picking up on broad technology trends.” May, T. (2009) The New Know: Innovation Powered by Analytics. “The results are real and measurable, and they offer a practical advantage for a customer”—or as educators would call them, students. Ohlhorst, F. (2013). Big data analytics: Turning big data into big money. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley.

Nonetheless, every great perk has a drawback, especially with trying to maintain data and use it appropriately. It causes students to take frequent test and it never ends. As noted in the book “Judgment Call”, students are tested quite frequently in a quest to better utilize data. This can be taxing on students to have to test frequently. Davenport, T. H. & Manville, B.

...and stressful on educators... top-ed-tech-trends-of-2012-education-data-and-learning-analytics

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The Data Analytics Tool in School