Turning Data into Action

From data to web 2.0! My mind is spinning as I consider all the knowledge and skills we are expecting our school administrators to internalize and be able to share back out with their staffs.

After a crazy fall traveling all over the state of Ohio presenting on data-driven decision making, what are the lessons I learned that can help my fellow educators?

On data....

• Data can be fun, yes fun, if you have the necessary skills to read and analyze it, the courage to self-reflect, and a culture that supports risk-taking and open dialogue.
• As a whole, educators are gearing up and ready for more sophisticated analysis of data. They are demanding more and understanding why they need it. This is a good thing. Now can the districts and states keep up with this demand by providing high quality tools and data sets?
• Asking why five times when examining data really works!
• There is universal recognition that when you go deep with data (look for root cause) it is messy and almost always results in the need to "dig up" more data.
• Analyzing data takes time.
  

The North Star

The North Star by Peter H. Reynolds
The North Star is the story of a young boy's journey through life. It is an allegory that raises questions about which road we should take and how to seek out our own unique path through life. The magical illustrations and gentle text reveal the empowering wonder of navigating our true potential.

The North Star celebrates the individual. It invites us to rethink curriculum, career choices and other critical life decisions in a way that respects who we really are and our own unique gifts.

Find a quiet place. Make a cup of tea. And voyage through The North Star.

What a wonderful invitation from Peter Reynolds, perhaps the first person to discover and put a pen to the concept of finding and following the North Star. As we seek out a vision for what might be, and cultivate ideas and action steps to get us there, what lessons can be found inside this seemingly simple children’s book? How do we celebrate diversity in education, while moving a large and complex system in a singular and focused direction toward improvement?

We will soon launch the North Star Project at APQC. The excitement is building - anticipation is rising. We have an incredible group of districts - all dedicated to continuous improvement and the belief that all students can learn. We shall see what can happen!

Why Metamorphosis?

1. A marked change in appearance, character, condition, or function. Also called transformation.

metamorphosis. (n.d.). The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary. Retrieved June 29, 2008, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/metamorphosis

It has occurred to me over the last six months that we are at a critical juncture in education. A time where the impossible is possible. Metamorphosis - a time for transformation in education.