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B.
Data Sources
After you have determined which types of data
you need, it will be time to collect it. There are many methods for collecting
data -- in some cases it will already be recorded, and
you merely need to "find" it; in other cases,
you'll need to construct a test, survey or other instrument
to obtain the information you need. Most data will
be collected through school/district databases, open-access
websites, or via teacher-created instruments.
School/District Databases
Because some of the information you need is confidential,
you must obtain it from your school or district office.
Remember, if it is confidential information, you must
keep it in a secure environment.
Most school districts maintain basic information about
students, including:
- Student data (demographics)- address, ethnicity,
poverty level, etc.
- Student data (behavior)- attendance data and discipline
records
- Assessment data - standardized test data
- Program data - curriculum materials, textbooks,
etc.
- Perceptions data - surveys conducted by the district
or school
You may need a password and ID to view the data on
your district's intranet. One of your first steps in
data collection should be to find out what information
is stored within the district and how you can access
the information.
Classroom Information
As teachers, we have lots of data at our fingertips
-- including assessment, student, program, and perceptions
data. For example, our gradebooks contain rows
and columns of assessment data from quizzes, rubrics,
and projects. We have student data, such as attendance
records and discipline reports. We have program data
related to the instructional materials and strategies
that are being used, and we have information about
our students' attitudes (perceptions data).
For more information about classroom assessments, see
the following sections of the Classroom Assessment course:
Public Websites
Information that is not confidential or is provided
only in the aggregate form (such as an entire school
or district) is available on the Web. Public websites
are great sources of the following types of information:
- Student data (demographics) - address, ethnicity,
poverty level, etc.
- Student data (behavior)- attendance data and discipline
records
- Assessment data - standardized test data
- Program data - curriculum materials, textbooks,
etc.
- Perceptions data - surveys conducted at the national
level
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