Objectives
TOPICS
A.Types of Data
B.Data Sources
Assignments

 
   

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
 
 
 
 

TRY THIS

Access the websites listed below.  Search for information about your school or district.

  • School Data Direct (State Education Data Center) - http://www.schooldatadirect.org/
    School Data Direct provides a place for educators, researchers and policymakers to access information about U.S. public schools. It is a free resource.
  • Search for Schools, Colleges and Libraries -http://nces.ed.gov/globallocator/
    The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) provides this portal to search for information about all public and private schools, colleges and public libraries. 
  • The Nation's Report Card -http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/
    The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as "the Nation's Report Card," is the only nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America's students know and can do in various subject areas. Since 1969, assessments have been conducted periodically in reading, mathematics, science, writing, U.S. history, civics, geography, and the arts.
  • American Fact Finder - http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet  
    Locate Census 2000 information, tables, statistics, maps, and more.
  • Kids Count Data Book -http://datacenter.kidscount.org/
    The Kids Count Data Book ranks all 50 states based on ten key indicators of child well being using data from 2006 and 2007.
  • GreatSchools.net -http://www.greatschools.net/  
    School information for public, private and charter schools nationwide.