UNIT 8: Measure, Understand, and Share Student Growth

In this unit, you’ll learn to:

• Determine the correct type of data to collect as an educator
• Develop effective methods of collecting the data required
• Organize and configure information to accurately represent the results
• Determine what lessons are needed to help students keep their information secure
• Pick the right tool for the learning objective you are trying to reach
• Determine what process to use to discover various methods of data analysis

Ahh, the Data Team and SLO Goal Unit of GAFE.  Who doesn't love data collection, amirght, or amiroght? Yeah.  No one really loves it, but we need to do it, so how can we do it without completely losing our minds, and precious time? FORMS AND SHEETS!

I am actually excited enough to warrant CAPS LOCK for that.  Google Forms and Sheets are easy to use, and can actually be fun.  You can use them for basic activities such as keeping data in a Sheet, and creating a Form for students to check in, with a Sheet being generated by the Form.  Or you can make quizzes and tests.  You can also make your Forms do the work for you.  Anything you can think of to ask a student, that you want to keep a record of, can probably be done through a Form.  Unique logins can be activated, school emails can be used, and once the Sheet is created, extra Sheets (tabs) can be created so you can manipulate the data you collect.  If you teach 5 classes, you can have all five take the same Form, and copy the data into unique tabs within the same Sheet file, and monitor specific classes, or you can create a similar Form with a specific Sheet to collect the data.  Data can be manipulated with formulas, or with colors, or text.  Need to make differentiated Forms for different students? Provide the link to those that need it.  And you can access your information anywhere you can get your Drive.  PD with a personal device? Check! Commuting time? Check! Home during a grading cram session? Check! PLC to collaborate on growth toward objectives? Check!

Need to create a visual from your data? Charts and Graphs can be created within Sheets.  anything created can also be published to the web with dynamic updates.  Instead of printing copies of all of your internet stored data, or sharing the Forms/Sheets, create your final representation you need to discuss in that PD or PLC, and share the Published link.  Once published, the link will redirect to changes made to the final product.  Or you realize you need to unpublish? That is ok.  You can do that too, change up what you want to share, and start over. 

I love to use Forms and Sheets for check-ins and exit tickets with my classes.  I can keep all of the responses and conference with students to redirect when grades start slipping. "Hey, I noticed your stopped responding in detail, and you haven't turned in the last assignment.  Do you need some help with this project still? Did it get turned in or do you need help on something new?" Or I can ask other teachers if they are having similar issues and have data to support RTI and Tier 2 responses.