There’s no shortage of student data in a K12 school. In fact, the biggest challenge comes from trying to analyze and interpret the multiple unique data points to make sense of what should come next.
When students are involved in the process of examining their own achievement data, looking for clues and hints about what’s working and what’s not, their education agency can skyrocket. Here’s how district administrators can set up a process in which students are given a front-row seat to their own data, goal setting, and progress monitoring through student success tracking.
Data builds a framework to discuss achievement
Meet students where they are today to discuss the trajectory into what they might achieve throughout the year. The best part of being able to drill down into individual student success tracking is focusing on the personalized growth curve. Compare this growth to the physical growth tracking kids experience with their pediatrician—the overall scale of what’s possible doesn’t have to cloud a student’s perception of their achievement. Instead, students can see their own growth curve and its natural orbit forward.Data is neither “good” nor “bad”
Let’s talk really quickly about grades and pressure, versus data and student success tracking. We know there’s pressure to perform well in school, and we know that students (and parents) struggle with boundaries: while the parent portal is always there, learning takes a long and circuitous path to success. Grades don’t always reflect the growth happening.Enter student success tracking data. This type of data is easier to meet from a morally agnostic point of view. Instead of letter grades which are not exact and cause confusion, actual data about progress is neutral, quantitative, and factual.
Data provides a benchmark to plan from
If we know the starting point, the limit to achievement does not exist. Data about what a student has mastered and is still learning means educators have an impeccable starting point to measure from. This type of benchmark is important for settling goals and monitoring progress toward them. It also gives a longitudinal data point to measure as students move from grade to grade and school to school.Data is a great way to find common ground
Look, a certain type of student is going to find their own data fascinating and will use it as a pole vault into a new horizon of knowledge and achievement. These students are underrepresented currently. For the average kid, being able to show them a part of themselves—their achievement data—might provide a starting point for building a supportive relationship. It could give kids an opportunity to allow themselves to consider paying attention to their own education. In other words, data can be a foot in the door to something bigger and better for the average K12 student.A student success tracking solution is within reach
All the data points in a student’s school life are impossible to track manually and efficiently. Luckily, edtech is catching up and aiming to make the load a little lighter for educators at all levels.See how one data analytics solution, DistrictPulse, integrates with Skyward SIS to support administrators, educators, parents, and students in success tracking.
WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOUR EDTECH? The right combo of tools & support retains staff and serves students better. We'd love to help. Visit skyward.com/get-started to learn more.
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Erin Werra Blogger, Researcher, and Edvocate |
Erin Werra is a content writer and strategist at Skyward’s Advancing K12 blog. Her writing about K12 edtech, data, security, social-emotional learning, and leadership has appeared in THE Journal, District Administration, eSchool News, and more. She enjoys puzzling over details to make K12 edtech info accessible for all. Outside of edtech, she’s waxing poetic about motherhood, personality traits, and self-growth.
