Creating visible data walls using Lyn Sharratt
The focus for improvement:
o To promote collective ownership and accountability of students
o To have a visible, moveable collection of data enabling all to track student progress
o To monitor student growth, celebrate and share success and spotlight students in need of intervention
o To promote ongoing assessment for learning
o To create deep and disciplined dialogue
o To have a positive impact upon student outcomes
o To de-privatise practice
Why was this an important focus for improvement?
o Staff not collectively owning student data
o Not all staff effectively using data to drive improvement
o Data analysis highlighted a focus on improving literacy outcomes
o SSO’s and teachers not working cohesively on student outcomes
o To bring data out into shared forum and have whole school overview
o To enable teachers to become interdependent not independent
Which data was analysed?
o Running Records
o EALD levels
What processes were used and who was involved?
o Data wall used a different coloured post-it note for each year group to enable cohorts to be clearly identified
o Student names written on post it; original reading level recorded in on post it to enable to monitor growth
o A3 sheet for each level
o Student post it placed on relevant A3 level sheet
o A separate wall for running records and EALD levels
o Data collected by class teachers and data wall constructed by Principal
o ATSI students identified by aboriginal flag; students with disabilities identified by coloured dot
How did you build teachers’ engagement?
o Allocation of structured staff meeting time
o Data discussions as part of Performance Development conversations
o PD around EALD levels and how it impacts upon future learning
o Complimented core work and not seen as a separate addition
Short term achievements:
o Robust discussion around student achievement amongst all staff
o Reinvigorated focus on reading
o Celebration of student successes
Long term achievements:
o Collective ownership of student outcomes and increased accountability
o Focused intervention strategies
o Increased confidence and reduction in behaviour issues for some students
o Governing Council requesting parent information sessions around strategies to assist your child’s learning
Concerns and solutions:
o Some sites concerned about placement of data wall and confidentiality but did not want to lose the impact of having the data visually in front of people
o Some sites created a data wall which could be folded up when confidentiality was required
o Some sites had pull down blinds which they used to cover the data when necessary
How did you go about exploring this focus?
o Followed on from ‘Putting Faces on the Data’ training with Lyn Sharratt
o Principles of training shared with all staff and Governing Council through PD and extract from ‘Putting Faces on the Data’ book
o Copies of book made available to staff
o Staff meetings structured to include opportunities to look at, reflect and move data on data walls
o All staff contribute to solutions for students not making expected progress
o Constant reflection and plans around student performance
How did you reflect upon the way and modify/change process in response to this reflection?
o Discussions at Partnership level and a focus of Leader’s PLC
o Discussions at Leadership level
o Discussion with all staff
o Discussion with Governing Council
o Discussion with Educational Director
o Decision made to use different coloured dots to identify type of disability for SWD
o Choose focus group eg ATSI and track growth and discuss as staff
What has happened as a result of this focus?
o Updating data is an expectation although this still needs to be formally recorded in an whole school agreement
o Other sites within Partnerships are creating data walls
o Individual students monitored by all staff
o Focused discussions in Performance Development meetings
o SSO’s feeling more engaged with improving student outcomes
o A shift in teacher mindset in relation to data
o Student outcomes in reading improving
o Collaborative approach in supporting students who are not reaching expected achievement
o Data walls are appearing in some classrooms