Posted by:
Shirley Hord
K-12 Classroom teacher
Austin, TX

Topic:
Data on Students and Teachers

Message:

If we believe that there is a relationship between how teachers teach and how students learn, then data on both students and teachers are vital, and frequently the same data may serve both. For example, the examination of student work can reveal the skills of both students and teachers. Engaging teachers in examining student work (data) or reviewing student test scores (data), in a social setting with trusted colleagues, can lead to rich and complex discussion, reveal the needs of students, and consequently the likely needs of teachers for new learning (to address the students' needs). The experience of reviewing students' data (their work) can be a stimulating and concrete self-assessment for the teacher that indicates immediately where staff development is needed.

In addition, various inventories and other assessment tools can be employed to assess potential staff development needs of participants. There is also the matter of self-determined or self-identified needs. While a great deal of credence is placed on self-diagnosed needs, many potential participants don't have the skills or knowledge to be able to do self-assessment meaningfully.

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