In the staff-only data rooms of schools, it’s customary to present student test results in charts. Typically, they present levels of proficiency (below basic, basic, proficient, or advanced) in areas such as math or reading. The goal is to focus teachers’ attention on students who are behind grade-level and need intensive intervention.
But with all the talk about student privacy these days, an open display of student data can cause more harm than good. If the display has the names of students, this can cause shame or humiliation among students who are struggling. It is crucial to think about the ways your school utilizes these displays, and to think about more secure alternatives.
Online platforms that store learning data in a safe and secure way are an excellent alternative to the traditional school wall of data. These platforms can pull information from LMS assignments assessment, summative and formative assessments along with demographic data, and even integrate with your SIS for reporting. Teachers can then access these data sets at any point in an unsecure and secure dashboard. They can utilize a broad array of filters that focus on specific trends or student groups/cohorts. They can also track real-time progress towards goals and go into detail on specific students and individual learning trends.
Regular meetings to discuss data are crucial for the data room to be effective. This allows teachers to narrow their focus and leave with concrete steps to help students move forward. If a group observes that a lot of students struggle with math, for example, they might decide to create an intervention specifically for that area and monitor progress until students reach proficiency.
